# WaterSMART: Desalination Construction Projects Under the WIIN Act for Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/r23as00465-watersmart-desalination-construction-projects-under-the/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/350382

> Bureau of Reclamation offered grants of up to $30.0 million to the applicants described in the notice. Applications closed on September 30, 2024.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | R23AS00465 |
| Agency | Bureau of Reclamation |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | September 30, 2024 |
| Award ceiling | $30.0 million |
| Award floor | not stated |
| Expected awards | not stated |
| Total funding | not stated |
| Cost sharing | required |
| Assistance Listings | 15.504 |

## Who can apply

- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Sponsors of seawater or brackish water desalination projects eligible to receive financial assistance to fund activities under this NOFO include state or local sponsors, which may include but is not limited to:States, Indian Tribes, municipalities, irrigation districts, water districts, wastewater districts; and any state, regional, or other organization with water or power delivery authority. All applicants MUST be located in one of the following States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming. See section C.1 Eligible Applicants requirement in the Full Announcement.

## What the grant funds

The objective of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to invite sponsors of eligible seawater and brackish water desalination projects to request cost-shared funding for planning, design, and/or construction of those projects. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is issued under the authority of the Water Desalination Act of 1996, Public Law (P.L.) 104-298, as amended by section 4009(a) of Title II, Subtitle J of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, P.L. 114-322.The U.S. Department of the Interior’s (Department) WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Program provides a framework for Federal leadership and assistance to stretch and secure water supplies for future generations in support of the Department’s priorities. Through WaterSMART, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to support stakeholder efforts to stretch scarce water supplies and avoid conflicts over water. The WIIN Act was enacted in December 2016 to address water resources infrastructure that is critical to the Nation’s economic growth, health, and competitiveness. Section 4009(a) of Subtitle J of WIIN includes amendments to the Water Desalination Act of 1996 that authorize Reclamation to provide funding for construction of desalination projects. 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 water supplies more reliable. Desalination Construction Projects also provide support for priorities identified in Presidential Executive Order (E.O.) 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad and aligned with other priorities, such as those identified in E.O. 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. WaterSMART Desalination Construction Projects will advance the Biden- Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative. Established by E.O.

## Questions people ask

### Is R23AS00465 still open?

No. It closed on September 30, 2024. 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 for Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024?

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 for Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024?

Closed September 30, 2024. 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.