The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed The Water Infrastructure Security and Research Development Act.

The $109-million package includes $12 million per year for five years to fund research, development and demonstration projects that increase security of drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, and certain source waters and associated facilities.

Companion Senate legislation was introduced and voted out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in early November.

Both bills would authorize $12 million per year for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide research grants on how to prevent, detect or respond to physical and cyber threats to our nation's water supply infrastructure.