The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation recently released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO R23AS00076) for planning and pre-construction activities to facilitate the development of Title XVI water reclamation and reuse projects, desalination construction projects, and large-scale water recycling projects.

Applications for funding close Feb. 28. The NOFO covers activities of eligible applicants including the development of new water recycling and desalination feasibility studies, planning and preliminary design activities for water recycling or desalination construction projects, or environmental compliance activities for water recycling or desalination construction projects.  

Applicants can apply for funding under two funding groups. Funding Group I applicants may request up to $1 million in federal funding for projects with an anticipated total project cost of less than $500 million, while Funding Group II applicants may request up to $5 million in federal funding for projects with an anticipated total project cost of greater than $500 million.   

Eligible applicants, depending on the funding group, include states, Tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and state, regional or local authorities, the members of which include one or more organizations with water or power delivery authority. Other eligible applicants include any agency established under state law for the joint exercise of powers, or a combination of entities described above. All applicants must be located in the western United States or territories under the purview of the Bureau of Reclamation, specifically: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands. 

This is the first time in recent years that the Bureau of Reclamation has made funding available for planning activities, and WateReuse has announced it is ready to support its members in applying for funds. Members with questions can reach out to Greg Fogel.