Federal and State officials announced the water recycling grants in Irvine in August.

Feds Announce $270M Investment in California Water Recycling Projects

An Allocation from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
Wastewater News

Following a tour of the Syphon Reservoir Improvement Project at the Irvine Ranch Water District today, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton announced the allocation of $309.8 million in funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and $1 million in appropriated funding for the planning, design and construction of water reuse projects across the country.

 The selected projects will advance drought resilience and are expected to increase annual capacity by about 213,000 acre-feet of water, enough water to support more than 850,000 people a year.

The announcement caps a two-day swing through central and southern California to highlight how investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help address the worsening drought crisis and expand access to clean drinking water for families, farmers and wildlife.

On Wednesday August 18th, Secretary Haaland, Commissioner Touton, and federal, state and local leaders visited with farmers and water users in Fresno to discuss water solutions for farmers and highlight investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“Water is essential to everything we do and it will take all of us, working together, to address the significant drought impacts we are seeing across the West. As the climate crisis drives severe drought conditions and historically low water allocations, President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is making historic investments to address water and drought challenges and invest in our nation’s western water and power infrastructure,” said Secretary Haaland.

“It’s clear that the incredible leaders we met today and the projects they are shepherding are national examples of how to manage water more efficiently and how the federal government can partner on these amazing innovations,” the Secretary noted in a tweet.

“Water reuse helps communities diversify their water supply as they are facing an unprecedented drought and a changing climate,” said Commissioner Touton. “This has tangible impacts and can help feed families, grow crops, sustain wildlife and the environment and help more families access safe, clean, reliable water. These projects will provide flexibility for communities and help them stretch their current drinking supplies as they will be treating wastewater that continues to be available.”

Funding will support local water management agencies with stretching existing drinking water supplies and helping to ensure that growing water needs can be met through the advanced treatment of wastewater and naturally impaired surface and groundwater. Along with non-federal contributions, today’s investment will support an overall $1.2 billion in infrastructure projects.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocates $8.3 billion for Bureau of Reclamation water infrastructure projects to repair aging water delivery systems, secure dams, complete rural water projects, and protect aquatic ecosystems.

The funding announced today is part of the $1 billion in WaterSMART Water Recycling and Reuse grants provided by the Law. The Department previously announced $52.2 million this year in WaterSMART grants funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support water and energy efficiency projects and conserve watersheds and restore aquatic habitats.

California Projects

Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency CA Replenish Big Bear Project $8,267,112
Carpinteria Valley Water District CA Carpinteria Advanced Purification Project $9,659,990
Coachella Valley Water District CA Water Reclamation Plant 10 (WRP-10) Non-Potable Water System $12,276,517
Eastern Municipal Water District CA Purified Water Replenishment Project $10,000,000
Irvine Ranch Water District CA Syphon Reservoir Improvement Project $12,245,625
Jurupa Community Services District CA Joint IEUA-JCSD Recycled Water Intertie Project $12,275,000
Las-Virgenes-Triunfo Joint Powers Authority CA Pure Water Project Las Virgenes-Triunfo $10,199,637
Monterey One Water CA Expand Pure Water Monterey Groundwater Replenishment Project $10,316,822
City of Morro Bay CA Water Reclamation Facility Project $9,310,095
City of Oceanside CA Pure Water Oceanside Program $9,941,533
Olivenhain Municipal Water District CA North San Diego Water Reuse Coalition Regional Recycled Water Program: 2020 Project $17,826,952
Padre Dam Municipal Water District CA East County Advanced Water Purification Program Phase 2 $28,300,000
City of Palo Alto CA City of Palo Alto Advanced Water Purification System $12,867,875
City of Pismo Beach CA Central Coast Blue $14,124,000
Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District CA Harvest Water Program $24,115,808
City of San Buenaventura CA Ventura Water Pure Program $14,026,650
Santa Margarita Water District CA San Juan Watershed Project $7,928,615
Sonoma County Water Agency CA North Bay Reuse Program: Phase 2 Program $6,934,655
Soquel Creek Water District CA Pure Water Soquel: Groundwater Replenishment and Seawater Intrusion Prevention Project $20,925,000
Water Replenishment District of Southern California CA Groundwater Reliability Improvement Program Recycled Water Project $15,478,307