Legislation containing major components of the Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act—commonly known as the Healthy H2O Act—has been approved by the U.S. House of Representatives as part of the 2026 Farm Bill. The provisions, designed to increase access to water quality testing and certified treatment technologies for some low-income Americans, were first developed in a WQA task force and have been championed in the House by U.S. Reps. David Rouzer (R-NC) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME).
The Farm Bill passed the House April 30 with a 224-200 vote. Attention now turns to the Senate, which must introduce and pass a version of the Farm Bill so the important water quality legislation attached to it can continue moving forward.
Healthy H2O proposes grants for water quality testing and certified treatment technologies in rural and underserved communities, including those served by private wells or small community water systems. The funding would go directly to individuals, licensed child-care facilities, and nonprofits equipped to help people go through the process of testing, then finding and installing appropriate water treatment products.
More than 40 organizations have joined WQA in publicly supporting Healthy H2O, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, National Ground Water Association, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, International Code Council, Water Systems Council, NSF International, and DigDeep.
More information about the Healthy H2O Act and WQA’s advocacy of it is available at wqa.org/healthyh2O.
Source: Water Quality Association
