US Bureau of Reclamation to spend $23m to improve water reuse and efficiency

The US Bureau of Reclamation has announced plans to spend $23m this fiscal year in order to improve water reuse and efficiency.

Of this, $9m has been allocated for WaterSMART Grants, $9m for the Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program and $5m to support water recycling initiatives which are taken up as part of California’s Central Valley Project.

The Bureau intends to allocate $2m in research and development efforts.

The department also received an additional $100m to tackle the current drought in the western region under the fiscal year 2016 omnibus appropriations legislation.

In January, WateReuse Association along with seven water sector groups had sought the department to use a part of the drought response funds for water reuse measures.

The seven other water sector groups included American Public Works Association (APWA), National Association Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), Water Environment Federation (WEF), National Association of Water Companies (NAWC), American Water Works Association (AWWA), Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) and Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA).

WateReuse Association executive director Melissa L Meeker said: ."We are so pleased that the Bureau of Reclamation continues to see water reuse, conservation, and efficiency as priorities."

"We applaud their ongoing support of sustainable systems."

The $100m package given for drought response in the western region will tackle several projects that have been hit by drought including the Central Valley Project, which includes funding for the Delta Division, American River Division, Shasta Division, Friant Division and other programmes.