Last month, the Bureau of Reclamation’s Title XVI program funded nearly $33 million in hopes of finding efficient water reuse strategies that provide clean water in the west. Deputy Secretary of the Interior, Michael Connor, and Commissioner, Estevan Lopez, announced that the recent grants will fund projects in California that aim to recycle wastewater, and also fund research to improve water efficient technologies in seven other western states. With water becoming more scarce, there is a larger need find innovative ways to preserve the dwindling resource. [1][2]
The Bureau of Reclamation finds opportunities that reuse wastewater through their Title XVI program. Money funded from this program goes towards planning, design, and construction of recycled water projects in 17 western states and Hawaii. Since 1992, there has been more than $639 million in federal and $2.4 billion in non-federal funded for the design and construction of projects through the Title XVI program. [2]
$30 million of the recent funding will be invested in seven projects related to water reclamation in California, mostly in the San Diego area. The rest of the funding ($2.93 million) will supply water reuse technology research to enhance the replicability in other areas. [1][3]
As the climate changes and undergoes global warming, drought has increased by 15 to 20 percent in California alone. [3] The need to conserve and efficiently recycle water has intensified as water becomes more scarce. As Secretary Connor said, “these investments will build resilience for local communities struggling with limited water supplies—an effort that is more important than ever as the dangers of drought escalate in the face of climate change.” [1]
To read more about the projects through the Title XVI program, visit: http://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/title/
Published 7/28/2016
[1] Water World. Water Reuse and Reclamation Projects in California Get $30M Boost from Interior Department. Water World, Jun 10, 2016. Web. http://www.waterworld.com/articles/2016/06/water-reuse-and-reclamation-projects-in-california-get-30m-boost-from-interior-department.html [2] Reclamation Managing Water in the West. Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse. Reclamation Managing Water in the West. Web. http://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/title/ [3] Gillis, Justin. California Drought is Made Worse by Global Warming, Scientists Say. New York Times, Aug 20, 2015. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/21/science/climate-change-intensifies-california-drought-scientists-say.html?_r=0 [4] Soeth, Peter. Bureau of Reclamation Selects Twenty-one Projects to Receive $2.93 Million to Study Water Treatment Technologies. Reclamation Managing Water in the West, Jun 30, 2016. Web. http://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/newsrelease/detail.cfm?RecordID=55340