Napolitano Introduces Legislation to Boost Large-Scale Water Recycling Projects in the West

"Thanks to President Joe Biden, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton, and our fellow Democrats in Congress, the game-changing Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided $450 Million for vital large-scale water recycling projects, including Pure Water and the Hyperion project in Southern California," Napolitano said. "As we combat extreme drought and prepare for future water shortages in the arid West, Congress must provide additional funding opportunities now to help boost these existing large-scale recycling projects and get new ones off the ground. I thank Representatives Grijalva, Huffman, and Lee for their partnership in championing cost-effective, large-scale water recycling projects and further securing a sustainable, drought-proof water supply for our communities."

"The climate crisis is affecting nearly every aspect of our lives, but for those of us who live in the West, the dwindling water supply is often top of mind," Grijalva said. "This legislation builds on the success of water recycling projects funded by the IIJA and put in place by the Biden administration to provide a sustainable solution that can stretch our water supply for millions of people in the years to come. I want to thank Congresswoman Napolitano for her effective leadership on this legislation and for being a longstanding champion of water supply projects over the years."

"This program for large-scale water recycling and reuse that we secured in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has been a great success, and we shouldn't let that progress peter out. Our bill would reauthorize funding for this grant program, help bolster the great projects already underway, and ensure it can continue expanding," said Rep. Huffman. "I'm glad to join Rep. Napolitano in this effort and am grateful for her leadership in meeting the needs of everyone with a stake in America's water future."

"We need to save every drop of water we can to combat one of the worst droughts in the history of the American West," said Congresswoman Susie Lee. "That's why I was proud to deliver over $122 million for local water projects last year and why I'm so proud to help lead the reauthorization of the Large-Scale Water Recycling Project Grant Program this year. This critical program was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that I helped negotiate and pass, and I look forward to seeing it reauthorized for another six years to continue delivering the resources our communities need."

The Large-Scale Water Recycling Reauthorization and Investment Act of 2024, reauthorizes the successful Large-Scale Water Recycling grant program within the Department of the Interior for six years for large-scale water recycling projects that have a total estimated cost of at least $1 Billion. The legislation increases the authorization from $450 Million to $1 Billion for the program; projects must be within one of the Bureau of Reclamation's seventeen western states.

"Innovative large-scale water recycling projects like ours will help the Southwest adapt to climate change and improve our water resiliency," Metropolitan Water District of Southern California General Manager Adel Hagekhalil said. "This bill to extend Reclamation's large-scale water recycling program is needed because these projects are complex and take time to build. In the coming decade these projects will provide a new secure source of water to the millions of people living in the West. I appreciate our Representatives support of the large-scale recycled water program and thank them for their work."

"This critically needed legislation will provide funding for the development of new innovative sources of climate resilient water that can serve millions of people across the West," said Robert C. Ferrante, Chief Engineer and General Manager of the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts. "Projects of this size and scope have rarely been contemplated before and require the active involvement and investment of all stakeholders to succeed. Extending the Large-Scale Water Recycling Program will help projects such as Pure Water Southern California, a water recycling project that we are developing with the Metropolitan Water District that would provide water for 1.5 million people. This funding would help that project to move faster, be more affordable, and advance federal interests to protect the Colorado River watershed.We thank Congressmembers Napolitano, Grijalva, Huffman and Lee for their leadership in introducing this bill and long-standing support for water recycling."

The full text of the Large-Scale Water Recycling Reauthorization and Investment Act of 2024 can be viewed HERE.

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