The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) supports two pieces of proposed legislation now pending before Congress that would assist consumers as they make choices about their source of drinking water.

Additionally, Ohio Congressman John Boehner’s H.R. 3910, the Affordable Drinking Water Act of 2000, seeks to authorize the use of federal funds to install, refurbish or service individually owned household well systems. The government, working with nonprofit entities, would help low- to moderate-income individuals obtain financing. Government support would allow homeowners of modest means to bring old household well systems up to current standards, replace systems that have met their expected life, or install new wells. Convenient, government-subsidized financing would allow well owners to pay for new or upgraded individual water well systems with convenient monthly payments, like other utility bills. At the bill’s March 14 introduction, Congressman Boehner called for support of his initiative:

"It is my understanding, Mr. Speaker, that organizations like the National Ground Water Association, a group that has a long and distinguished record preserving and protecting America's precious ground water resources, strongly endorses this legislation. It is my hope that other organizations and communities that support common sense, innovative approaches to providing affordable, safe water to rural Americans will also endorse the Affordable Drinking Water Act of 2000."

For more information on these bills, visit the NGWA Web site at http://www.ngwa.org/pubaff/pubaffmn.html, or call NGWA at (800) 551-7379.

NGWA is a not-for-profit, 16,000-member international organization dedicated to providing and protecting the world's ground water resources.