Amends the Water Resources Research Act and the Saline Water Conversion Act to extend the authority of the Secretary of the Interior with respect to specified water resources programs.
Authorizes $21,950,000 to be appropriated for fiscal year 1978 for purposes of the Saline Water Conversion Act and the Water Resources Research Act.
Authorizes and directs the Secretary to operate and maintain desalting plants utilizing membrane and phase change desalting processes at no more than four locations in the United States. Authorizes the appropriation of $40,000,000 for the construction of such plants, and such sums as are necessary for the operating expenses of such plants.