R22AS00117: WaterSMART: Desalination Construction Projects Under the WIIN Act
Closed
This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects (R26AS00079). Status: Closes August 26, 2027 (292 days left). It is in our archive of Bureau of Reclamation notices from 2022.
Bureau of Reclamation offered grants of up to $30.0 million to the applicants described in the notice. Applications closed on March 15, 2022.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed January 14, 2022. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$30.0 million
- Cost sharingRequired
- Funding typeCooperative Agreement, Grant
Other notices with this title
| Notice | Posted | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| R21AS00428 | March 24, 2021 | Closed April 23, 2021 | Closed |
Key dates
| Posted | January 14, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | March 15, 2022 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Applicants eligible to receive an award under this NOFO include sponsors of seawater and brackish water desalination projects located in the Western United State of United States Territiories as identified in the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902 that have submitted a Feasibility Study to Reclamation for review by the date this NOFO is posted Eligibility does not entitle an applicant to any future Federal funding or create a new project authorization.
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past WaterSMART Water Recycling awards averaged $10.5 million; this notice allows up to $30.0 million per award.
- Most of the program's money (90% over five years) went to state and local governments.
- The notice requires cost sharing or matching funds, so you must contribute part of the project cost.
What the grant funds
Desalination is an essential tool in stretching the limited water supplies in the Western United States. Desalination projects develop and supplement municipal and irrigation water supplies through the treatment of ocean or brackish water, thereby providing a local supply, providing flexibility during water shortages, and diversifying the water supply portfolio. These projects provide growing communities with new sources of clean water and increase water management flexibility, making our water supply more reliable. Desalination projects are an important part of the Department’s WaterSMART Program. For further information on the WaterSMART Program, see www.usbr.gov/watersmart. The objective of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to invite sponsors of projects eligible under section 4009(c) of the WIIN Act (Projects) to request cost-shared funding for planning, design, and/or construction of those Projects. A NOFO for congressionally authorized Title XVI projects is being released separately. All applicants should reivew the Full Notice of Funding Opportunity Document attached under the Related Documents tab above this statement. The Document provides full guidance and additional information on the application development process.
Who has won WaterSMART Water Recycling grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, WaterSMART Water Recycling (15.504) awarded $942 million across 90 grant awards, an average of $10.5 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California | California | 2 | $130 million |
| City of San Buenaventura | California | 2 | $106 million |
| Water Replenishment District of Southern California | California | 3 | $47.9 million |
| City of Oceanside | California | 3 | $31.2 million |
| Eastern Municipal Water District | California | 1 | $30.0 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, R26AS00079, which is open now.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is R22AS00117 still open?
No. It closed on March 15, 2022. A newer notice is open: R26AS00079, closes August 26, 2027 (292 days left).
Who can apply for WaterSMART: Desalination Construction Projects Under the WIIN Act?
Bureau of Reclamation accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for WaterSMART: Desalination Construction Projects Under the WIIN Act?
Closed March 15, 2022. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $30.0 million each.
Who has won WaterSMART Water Recycling grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, City of San Buenaventura, Water Replenishment District of Southern California. The program made 90 awards worth $942 million in that time.
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