Deb Haaland U.S. Secretary of the Interior | Official Website
The Department of the Interior has announced a $125 million investment for five water recycling projects in California and Utah. This funding is part of the Large-Scale Water Recycling Program, initiated in 2023 with support from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The program encourages large-scale conservation projects without size restrictions, aiming to develop local drought-resistant water supplies by converting unusable water sources into clean ones.
Secretary Deb Haaland stated, "The President’s Investing in America agenda is making transformational investments in climate resilience in communities across America." She emphasized that the program ensures western communities have necessary resources to protect water supplies for future generations.
Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton highlighted the significance of these efforts, saying, "This effort to diversify our tools by taking previously unusable water sources and turning them into new supplies will be instrumental in managing through drought."
The Biden Administration's Investing in America agenda marks the largest climate resilience investment in U.S. history. It aims to enhance Western communities' ability to withstand drought and climate change impacts. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, $8.3 billion will be invested over five years in various water infrastructure projects.
Selected projects include $60.4 million for Ventura Water Program, estimated to produce 3,600 acre-feet annually; $30 million for Los Angeles Groundwater Replenishment Project with an output of 26,000 acre-feet annually; $26.2 million for Metropolitan Water District's Pure Water Southern California project producing 118,590 acre-feet annually; $10.8 million for Inland Empire Utilities Agency's Advanced Treatment project yielding 15,000 acre-feet annually; and $641,222 for Washington County Water Conservancy District's Regional Reuse system estimated at 28,373 acre-feet annually.
This second funding round follows a previous announcement of $179 million in May and supports President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative aimed at directing benefits from federal investments to disadvantaged communities affected by underinvestment and pollution.
