The bill, which will go to the House floor for consideration, would direct the Interior Department to conduct a comprehensive study of the Rathdrum Prairie-Spokane Valley Aquifer. The study would determine how much water is available from the ground water resource.

The aquifer provides the sole source of drinking water for approximately 400,000 people. Chambers of Commerce from communities in the area have worked to secure federal funding for the study, citing the importance of high-quality water for the region's economy.