- Eighteen projects set to receive federal support.
- Over 300,000 acre-feet of annual recycled water projected.
- Infrastructure law invests $8.3 billion in water resilience.
January 15, 2025 — The Department of the Interior announced yesterday
a significant infusion of $223 million to support water recycling and desalination projects under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. This funding, drawn from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and annual appropriations, will be distributed across 18 projects in eight states. Officials expect these efforts to yield a combined 305,936 acre-feet of recycled water each year, helping communities better withstand drought conditions.
The announcement underscores the administration’s dedication to enhancing Western states’ water resources. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law alone, the Bureau of Reclamation is directing $8.3 billion over five years to a spectrum of crucial water infrastructure endeavors. These range from rural water systems and water storage upgrades to desalination, nature-based solutions, and dam safety improvements. The Bureau has already committed nearly $5.3 billion to more than 670 projects since the law passed three years ago.
Secretary Deb Haaland emphasized the stakes involved in safeguarding the nation’s water supplies. “Access to clean and reliable water is essential for feeding families and communities, growing crops, sustaining wildlife and the environment, and powering agricultural businesses,” said Haaland. “The Biden-Harris administration has brought every resource to bear to ensure that we both minimize the impacts of climate-fueled drought and develop a long-term plan to build resilience and facilitate water conservation.”
Reclaiming and Desalinating.
Deputy Commissioner Roque Sanchez, speaking during a site visit to a project in Oklahoma yesterday, underscored the importance of water reuse. “With these historic investments, we continue to work with our stakeholders to develop drought resiliency in western states through water reuse and desalination,” he said. “This allows for communities and water users to develop previously unusable water supplies to create a new local water supply that is less vulnerable to impacts of climate change and drought.”
Among these initiatives is the Foss Reservoir Master Conservancy District, which will receive $7.5 million for a Drinking Water Pretreatment Rehabilitation Project. The planned upgrades are expected to boost the treatment plant’s capacity from 1.8 million gallons per day to 2.3 million gallons per day, bolstering the region’s resilience against drought.
Yesterday’s announcement follows other recent funding measures, including $142 million in June, all reflecting a coordinated effort to strengthen the West’s adaptability to climate change and diminishing water availability. More details on the newly selected projects are published on Reclamation’s website.
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Image via the Bureau of Reclamation’s news release: “Interior is funding $223 million for water recycling and desalination projects aimed at addressing the impacts of drought.”
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