§ 3120. Water conservation.

(a) Technical assistance center.--The department shall establish and maintain a water resources technical assistance center to promote voluntary water conservation and to provide technical assistance on water resources uses issues, including methods for efficient water use, including reduction of unaccounted-for water loss and the replenishment and conservation of water resources. The center shall:

(1) Establish a voluntary Statewide water conservation program for all water users.

(2) Establish guidelines for the development of voluntary water use reduction plans in critical water planning areas.

(3) Establish voluntary water use reduction goals for all water users.

(4) Identify water conservation principles, practices and technology to assist all water users in conserving water.

(5) Develop a water conservation educational program for households, industry and other water users.

(6) Establish a Governor's Water Conservation Award to recognize outstanding conservation of water.

(7) Develop a program to promote voluntary reduction of unaccounted for water loss.

(8) Identify principles, practices and technologies to encourage groundwater recharge.

(b) Grant approval.--When approving funding pursuant to the act of March 1, 1988 (P.L.82, No.16), known as the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority Act, the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority shall give special consideration to funding projects that:

(1) address unaccounted-for water loss or that implement water conservation practices by a public water supply agency whose unaccounted-for water loss rate exceeds 20%, provided that, as a condition for such assistance, the applicant shall agree to attempt to recover the true cost of service from ratepayers and adopt and implement a water system management program that conforms to minimum standards established by the department, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission or any Compact Basin Commission for water metering, meter testing and replacement, leak detection, unaccounted-for water tracking and reporting and conservation education; or

(2) provide for interconnection between water systems to improve reliability.

Cross References. Section 3120 is referred to in section 3121 of this title.