The California Water Alliance is pleased with the passage of legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that aims to improve water supplies throughout the west.

Executive Director Aubrey Bettencourt says the Western Water and American Food Security Bill requires real-time monitoring of water facilities and makes the construction of infrastructure less difficult.

“Right now, there’s a lot of competing permitting among different departments,” she said. “This creates what they call a one-stop-shop permitting process – and has an effect not just on us in California.”

Bettencourt believes the bill has a good chance of passing the Senate, but will likely be vetoed by the president over environmental concerns.

– Anthony Pollreisz