Every Drop Counts Act

The "Every Drop Counts Act" amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to expand eligibility for federal grants for water storage projects, introducing new criteria for projects with a general capacity of 200 to 30,000 acre-feet that enhance surface or groundwater storage or facilitate water conveyance. It also establishes a second category for projects that recharge 200 to 150,000 acre-feet annually, specifically targeting groundwater aquifer storage , water conveyance to or recovery from groundwater, and the stabilization of groundwater levels. Additionally, the bill increases the maximum federal cost share for these eligible projects from 5 percent to 10 percent of the total project cost. Crucially, the legislation includes a statutory construction clause to ensure these amendments do not supersede or conflict with existing State water law , Federal water law, interstate compacts, or treaty obligations. It further clarifies that the bill does not authorize federal water acquisition or infringe upon any established water rights.