President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Help Communities Reduce Vulnerability to Drought

Over $310 million investment will support 25 projects bringing water to more than 850,000 per year

08/18/2022
Last edited 08/18/2022

Date: Thursday, August 18, 2022
Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov

IRVINE, CA — 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, 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.

"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.

Selected Projects

Recipient 

State 

Title 

Reclamation Funding 

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 

County of Maui 

HI 

Lahaina Water Recycling Project #3: West Maui Recycled Water Expansion 

$1,080,244 

City of Nampa 

ID 

City of Nampa Recycled Water Program 

$3,000,000 

El Paso Water Utilities Public Service Board 

TX 

Advanced Water Purification Facility 

$20,000,000 

Weber Basin Water Conservancy District 

UT 

Tertiary Treatment Facility in Central Weber 

$14,300,000 

City of Cheney 

WA 

Cheney Purple Pipe Project 

$5,445,750 

The Departments of the Interior and Agriculture co-lead the Drought Resilience Interagency Working Group and recently released their Drought Resilience 2022 Year One Summary Report.

More information, including details about other current opportunities to apply for funding available under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is available on Reclamation's WaterSMART program webpage.

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