In February, a hearing by the House Subcommittee on Environment convened a panel titled “From Source to Tap: A Hearing to Examine Challenges and Opportunities for Safe, Reliable, and Affordable Drinking Water.”
The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) testified testified at the hearing, represented by Lindsey Rechtin, President and CEO of the Northern Kentucky Water District.
“Water systems are the unseen engines of America’s economic and public health infrastructure, yet in 2026 they stand at a crossroads,” Rechtin told lawmakers in her prepared testimony. “AMWA is eager to work with this subcommittee to ensure that all Americans have access to clean, safe, and affordable drinking water.”
AMWA said Rechtin’s testimony covered several policy recommendations for Congress to consider that are AMWA priorities, including reauthorizing and fully funding the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), WIFIA, and other federal water infrastructure assistance programs.
Also on the list was holding polluters accountable for cleaning up PFAS pollution, and taking steps to ensure all Americans have access to affordable drinking water service.
“The DWSRF is not merely a financing mechanism; it is a long-term partnership that enables utilities to plan strategically, combine funding sources effectively, and deliver improvements that protect public health while maintaining affordable rates,” Rechtin said in testimony. “Robust reauthorization at levels commensurate with the sector’s documented needs is the foundation on which utilities like ours build reliable, compliant water systems.”
Rechtin is a member of AMWA’s Board of Directors, where she serves as the association’s Treasurer. She is also a member of the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center (WaterISAC) Board of Managers.
Source: AMWA
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