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Reclamation launches funding opportunity for desalination and water purification pilot projects

Funding applicants will pitch their new innovative technologies at Reclamation's Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility in Alamogordo, New Mexico

Media Contact: Peter Soeth, 303-445-3615, psoeth@usbr.gov

For Release: April 30, 2019

The Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility in Alamogordo, New Mexico.
The Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility in Alamogordo, New Mexico.WASHINGTON — The Bureau of Reclamation is launching a novel "pitch to pilot" funding opportunity seeking new innovative technologies or processes for desalination and water purification. Top applicants will pitch their ideas to reviewers for the chance to test through a pilot demonstration.

"We are addressing a critical need to reduce the costs, energy requirements and environmental impacts for treating unusable water. Our approach is unique. We are streamlining the funding process by asking the strongest applicants to pitch their concept," said Desalination Water Purification Research Program Administrator Yuliana Porras-Mendoza said. "This is an opportunity to take a new approach from the lab to a real-world demonstration, providing products that serve the water treatment community and attract commercial interest."

Specifically, Reclamation is seeking:

  • a less energy-intensive way than current processes and technologies to treat brackish groundwater at the pilot scale.
  • to reduce the high cost, energy usage and/or environmental impacts of concentrate management for inland desalination at the pilot scale.
  • to improve efficiency of treatment without increasing the total cost and energy usage of current systems for desalination pretreatment.
  • to address costs, energy usage and/or environmental impacts of seawater desalination, including intakes and/or outfalls.

Reclamation anticipates awarding four to six agreements with up to $150,000 available per agreement through its Desalination and Water Purification Research Program. Applications are due June 25, 2019, at 4 p.m. MDT. Reclamation will invite the finalists to present their proposal at Reclamation's Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility in Alamogordo, New Mexico, on August 28-29, 2019.

The funding opportunity is available at www.grants.gov by searching funding opportunity number BOR-DO-19-F017. Though not required, applicants are encouraged to provide a non-federal cost share. Individuals/entrepreneurs, institutions of higher education, commercial or industrial organizations, private entities, state and local governmental entities, federally-funded research and development centers, tribal governments and organizations, and non-profit organizations are eligible to apply.

Learn more about Reclamation's Desalination and Water Purification Research Program at https://www.usbr.gov/research/dwpr.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

Desalination and Water Purification Research Program Pitch to Pilot for Fiscal Year 2019 Funding Opportunity