Calif. DWR offering $6M to support desalination pilot projects

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced that it is offering $6 million in financial assistance for desalination projects that help develop new sources of local water supplies in the state. Applications are due by October 5.

Funded by Proposition 1, the Water Desalination Grant Program is offering $6 million to support construction and design pilot projects that desalinate naturally occurring brackish and ocean water for potable water supply.

“Desalination remains a critical water supply source in communities where traditional water supplies are limited,” said Karla Nemeth, DWR Director. “California faces a range of water supply challenges and climate change continues to intensify impacts and weather extremes. Our priority is building water resilience through a set of actions that will prepare our water systems to support our growing state in a hotter, drier climate.”

DWR expects to announce the final awards in February 2023. Funding request applications must be submitted by October 5 using DWR’s online submittal tool, GRanTS. Eligible applicants include public agencies, mutual water companies, nonprofit organizations, and tribes.

Interested parties can find more information about the funding and eligibility requirements in the Proposal Solicitation Package.

To date, DWR has awarded over $81 million in Proposition 1 desalination grants ranging from over $100,000 to $10 million to 17 projects. In addition to supporting local desalination efforts, DWR contributed $16 million to the National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI) in 2021 to help advance desalination research. Led by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, NAWI and its team of 180 institutions are conducting a five-year research project to lower the cost and energy required for desalination.