WaterSMART

Desalination

The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act provides new authority to Reclamation to develop a desalination construction program that will provide a path for ocean or brackish water desalination projects to receive Federal funding.

The feasibility studies for the following desalination projects meet the requirements contained in Reclamation Manual Directives and Standards WTR 11-01. These findings have been transmitted to Congress.

Report to Congress - Feasibility Study Review Findings Report

The Bureau of Reclamation has transmitted a WIIN Desalination Project Feasibility Study Findings Report to Congress.

• WIIN Desalination Feasibility Study Review Findings Reports - Transmitted May 13, 2021
• WIIN Desalination Feasibility Study Review Findings Reports - Transmitted September 23, 2019
• WIIN Desalination Feasibility Study Review Findings Reports - Transmitted February 13, 2019

Documents

• Water Recycling and Desalination Fact Sheet

Contacts

For additional information on Desalination, please contact Maribeth Menendez at 303-445-2094 or send an email to mmenendez@usbr.gov.

You may complete this form to receive WaterSMART program notification from the Bureau of Reclamation.

Announcements

• Reclamation released a funding opportunity for development of water reuse and desalination projects

  The Bureau of Reclamation released a grant funding opportunity for planning and pre-construction activities for potential new Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse projects, Desalination Construction projects, and Large-Scale Water Recycling projects. The notice of funding opportunity is available on grants.gov by searching for opportunity number R23AS00076.

  Reclamation hosted a webinar on January 11, 2023 to discuss eligible applicants, project activities, and the evaluation criteria for Water Recycling and Desalination Planning funding opportunity. We also discussed program requirements and how projects can become eligible to compete under future funding opportunities for the planning, design, and construction of projects under the Title XVI Program, the Desalination Construction Program, and the Large-Scale Water Recycling Program.

  If you have questions regarding applicant and project eligibility, program requirements, or the evaluation criteria, click here to schedule time to talk with the program coordinators.

  Download Powerpoint Slides

• Interior Department Announces Infrastructure Investments for Desalination, Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects

  The Department of the Interior today announced three funding opportunities available to help Western communities create or expand clean, new water sources. The selected projects, which include desalination, and water reclamation and reuse projects, will be funded through investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and, when enacted, fiscal year 2022 appropriations. Read More →

• Reclamation Publishes Desalination Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act Funding Opportunity

  The Bureau of Reclamation has published a funding opportunity open to projects eligible under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act. Applications are due on April 23, 2021, at 4:00 p.m. MDT. The funding opportunity open to sponsors of seawater or brackish desalination projects eligible to compete for funding under section 4009(a) of the WIIN Act. This funding opportunity is available on grants.gov by searching for opportunity number R21AS00428. View funding opportunity on grants.gov →