HR 3900119th CongressIntroduced

Water Quality Technology Availability Act

Introduced: Jun 11, 2025

Environment & Climate

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

Water Quality Technology Availability Act (H.R. 3900) would amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (the Clean Water Act) to require that when the government develops effluent limitation guidelines, it consider the total cost of applying technologies that are commercially available in the United States. The bill would replace the current wording in the law to specify that the technology considered must be “commercially available in the United States,” thereby narrowing the scope to United States‑available technologies. In short, the bill aims to ensure cost considerations—specifically the full, real-world cost of using approved technologies—are factored into setting limits on pollutants discharged by industries and other sources. The change is intended to influence how the EPA (and state agencies applying the guidelines) evaluates which treatment technologies to require, potentially affecting which technologies are deemed feasible and economically achievable when establishing effluent limitations.

Key Points

1The bill is titled the Water Quality Technology Availability Act and is introduced in the 119th Congress (H.R. 3900, introduced June 11, 2025 by Rep. Collins; referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure).
2It amends 304(b)(1)(B) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act by changing the phrasing from “technology in relation to” to “technology that is commercially available in the United States in relation to,” narrowing the scope to U.S.-available technology.
3The stated purpose is to ensure that the total cost of applying technology that is commercially available in the United States is considered when developing effluent limitation guidelines.
4The change emphasizes the economic considerations (cost) of implementing technology rather than other or broader types of technology.
5The bill would influence how the EPA and states assess feasibility and economics when setting or revising technology-based effluent limits for various industrial discharges.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Regulated industries and dischargers subject to effluent limitation guidelines (e.g., manufacturing, mining, chemical processing, wastewater facilities) that must implement treatment technologies.Secondary group/area affected- Environmental agencies (EPA at the federal level and state environmental agencies) responsible for developing and enforcing effluent guidelines; technology providers and vendors supplying treatment systems that are commercially available in the U.S.Additional impacts- Potential effects on cost calculations for compliance, which could influence which technologies are deemed feasible or required.- Possible implications for small businesses and municipalities if cost considerations lead to different technology choices or pace of standards updates.- Implications for the U.S. market for water treatment technologies, favoring technologies that are readily commercially available in the United States.

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