Modernizing America's Water Resource Management and Water Infrastructure
Oct 16, 2020
Signed by: Donald Trump
Signed on: Oct 13, 2020
Published on: Oct 16, 2020
Oct 16, 2020
Signed by: Donald Trump
Signed on: Oct 13, 2020
Published on: Oct 16, 2020
Summary
Establishes a committee to improve how government agencies work together on water management, update water systems, and ensure clean, safe water for all.
What problem does this solve?
Many different government groups work on water issues, but they often do the same work and don't coordinate, which is inefficient. This order creates a new main committee, the Water Subcabinet, to lead all the groups, get rid of duplicate efforts, and create a single plan for managing America's water.
What does this order do?
Establishes the Water Subcabinet
Creates a new committee co-chaired by the Secretary of the Interior and the EPA Administrator to coordinate all federal water-related activities.
Reduces government inefficiency
Requires the new Water Subcabinet to identify and recommend consolidating the hundreds of existing federal water-related working groups to reduce duplication.
Develops a national water strategy
Directs the Water Subcabinet to create a report with actions to increase water storage, improve water quality, modernize water systems, and improve water data and forecasting.
Integrates water infrastructure planning
Directs the Water Subcabinet to recommend actions for integrated planning and coordination among agencies to maintain and modernize the nation's water infrastructure.
Supports the water sector workforce
Requires recommendations to help recruit, train, and keep professionals who operate and maintain America's essential water facilities.
Who does this affect?
- Federal agencies
- State, local, and tribal governments
- Agricultural sector
What is the real world impact?
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Streamlines government water management
Creates a central committee to oversee the hundreds of existing federal water groups. This reduces wasted effort and ensures different government agencies are working together on a unified plan for water safety, supply, and infrastructure.
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Prioritizes economic uses of water
By focusing on things like water storage for agriculture and market-based solutions, the order could shift federal efforts towards supporting industries that use a lot of water, possibly at the expense of environmental conservation or the needs of smaller communities.
When does this start?
This order sets several deadlines for reports and recommendations in the months following its signing on October 13, 2020.
Report on consolidating working groups
Within 90 days (by January 11, 2021), the Water Subcabinet must provide recommendations on consolidating existing federal water-related working groups.
Report on improving water management
Within 120 days (by February 10, 2021), the Water Subcabinet must submit a report with recommended actions to increase water storage and improve water quality.
Recommendations for infrastructure planning
Within 150 days (by March 12, 2021), the Water Subcabinet must recommend actions to support integrated planning for modernizing water infrastructure.
Recommendations for water workforce
Within 150 days (by March 12, 2021), the Water Subcabinet must develop recommendations to improve the recruitment, training, and retention of water professionals.
Annual status update
Within one year of its first major report, and annually thereafter, the Water Subcabinet must update leaders on the status of its recommended actions.