WaterSMART: Desalination Construction Projects Under the WIIN Act

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The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN), Public Law (P.L.) 114-322, was enacted in December of 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 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 ocean and brackish water desalination projects (Projects) to request cost-shared funding for the planning, design, and/or construction of those Projects. Please see the related documents tab of the grants.gov page for this opportunity for the full Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement for additional information

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