U.S. Department of Interior Launches Large-Scale Water Recycling Program with Initial $180 Million Grant Funding

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Interior launched a large-scale water recycling program as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The $180 million grant funding is part of a total $450 million for this new program to combat drought and protect the water supply in Nevada and other western states.

The funding is aimed at supporting water management agencies considering or planning larger water reuse projects to address water supply shortages and combat drought – including a regional water recycling project in California that could produce enough water to serve more than 500,000 households in Southern California and Nevada.

Nearly 40 million people depend on the Colorado River for drinking water, and over a million depend on the electricity generated by the Hoover Dam. Lake Mead currently supplies water to 25 million people across Nevada, Arizona, and California.

Recently, Congressman Susie Lee (D-NV), Vice-Chair of the Colorado River Caucus, hosted a Southern Nevada Water Summit in coordination with the Southern Nevada Water Authority. During the summit, Congresswoman Lee announced that the Bureau of Reclamation has allocated $63 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to 13 water infrastructure projects across Nevada. Tommy Beaudreau, Deputy Secretary of the Interior Department, delivered a keynote speech. 

Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Bureau of Reclamation is investing a total of $8.3 billion over five years for for water infrastructure projects. 

“My hometown of Las Vegas has led the nation in recycling our water, and I am confident these new projects will serve hundreds of thousands of homes across the West,” said Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV).