WaterSMART

WaterSMART

The American West faces serious water challenges. Wide-spread drought, increased populations, aging infrastructure, and environmental requirements all strain existing water and hydropower resources. Adequate and safe water supplies are fundamental to the health, economy, and security of the country. Through WaterSMART, Reclamation will continue to work cooperatively with states, tribes, and local entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply through investments to modernize existing infrastructure and avoid potential water conflicts.

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WaterSMART Project Selections Overview

Since January 2021, Reclamation has selected 926 projects to be funded with $443 million in WaterSMART funding, in conjunction with $3.89 billion in non-Federal funding, across the western states.

Documents

• WaterSMART Fact Sheet

Announcements

• Applied Science Grants Funding Opportunity Webinar

  The Bureau of Reclamation will host a webinar on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 to discuss eligible applicants and project types, program requirements, and the evaluation criteria for the Applied Science Grants funding opportunity. Click here join the live event.

• DOI Announces Fifth Installment in Environmental Justice Technical Assistance Webinar Series

  Feeling overwhelmed by the Federal grants application process? We’re here to share tips and resources that will help you navigate available funding and access Federal grants to benefit your communities and Tribes. Join the next webinar of the Department of the Interior Environmental Justice Steering Committee’s Environmental Justice Technical Assistance Webinar Series on Thursday, January 9, 2025, from 2:30 – 3:30 pm ET (11:30 am – 12:30 pm PT). This webinar will focus on the post-award management process.

  Click here to register for the live event.

  Accommodations can be requested during the registration process; please share any requests by January 2, 2025, by 4pm ET. This webinar will be recorded and shared with all registrants via email after the webinar. To access recordings of previous Environmental Justice Technical Assistance Webinars, visit the Department’s Environmental Justice website.

• Biden-Harris Administration announces over $12 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for water sustainability projects

  The Bureau of Reclamation today announced nearly $12.1 million through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to support collaborative planning and design projects to improve water sustainability and efficiency. Reclamation selected a total of 43 projects in 11 states to receive the funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act and annual appropriations through Reclamation’s WaterSMART program. Read More →

  Project Descriptions

• Biden-Harris Administration Announces $125 Million Investment for Large-Scale Water Recycling Projects

  The Department of the Interior today announced a $125 million investment for five projects in California and Utah that will help create new sources of water and improve drought resiliency. Read More →

  Project Descriptions

• Reclamation announces $3.3M in WaterSMART Small-Scale Water Efficiency grants for 36 projects

  The Bureau of Reclamation has selected 36 projects to receive a total of $3.3 million in federal funding to enhance water efficiency across the Western United States. The funding, provided through the Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects program, will support initiatives such as the installation of flow measurement or automation systems, canal lining to reduce seepage, and other similar projects that aim to improve water management on a smaller scale. Read More →

  Project Descriptions

• Biden-Harris Administration Announces $125 Million Investment for Large-Scale Water Recycling Projects

  The Department of the Interior today announced a $125 million investment for five projects in California and Utah that will help create new sources of water and improve drought resiliency. Read More →

  Project Descriptions

• Bureau of Reclamation Invests over $91 Million in the Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems

  The Bureau of Reclamation today announced a $91 million investment from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the study, design, and construction of large-scale aquatic ecosystem restoration projects. Funding will support 19 projects across six states that are collaboratively developed, have widespread regional benefits, and result in the improvement of the health of fisheries, wildlife, and aquatic habitat. Read More →
    Project Descriptions

• BABA Waiver Posted for Public Comment: AMI Water Meters

  The Bureau of Reclamation has developed a proposed Build America Buy America (BABA) non-availability waiver for AMI water meters. The waiver as proposed would provide coverage for purchases of AMI water meters for three years, using a phased approach. The waiver is available for review here.

  This proposed waiver is posted for public comment for 30 days, through September 29, 2024. Comments can be sent to DOI_Grants_BuyAmerica_Waiver@ios.doi.gov. If you anticipate seeking Federal funding for an AMI water meter project, please review the proposed waiver and share with your stakeholder groups for a strong response. All comments are encouraged, however, comments are specifically sought on the following topics:

  • The waiver is formatted in phases, with the first two years waiving BABA requirements for AMI water meters entirely. During the third year of the waiver, the water meter body is no longer covered by the waiver. This is based on market research to date identifying several manufacturers with meter bodies that are domestically manufactured. Is it reasonable to expect that all AMI water meter manufacturers utilize domestically produced water meter bodies within two years?

  • This waiver is proposed to cover purchases for a total of three years, using the phased approach described above. Covering purchases made during the waiver period sets clear expectations for manufacturers to work towards domestic production. Do grant recipients have any concerns with this approach?

  • Please review the section of the waiver titled “Description of Covered Items” to assess our interpretation of the components of the AMI water meter.

  • Feedback is requested on how manufacturers plan to apply the component cost test to their water meters to meet BABA’s 55% domestic content requirement for manufactured products.

  • Comments identifying difficulties affecting the feasibility of domestically sourcing specific water meter components in an adequate supply to meet demand are extremely helpful.

  • Comments are requested on the current and future capacity of manufacturers to domestically assemble AMI water meters. Of special interest is whether manufacturers with assembly capabilities can provide estimates and certainty for the potential quantities and product characteristics (such as communications methods, compatibility, and/or leak detection) sought by USBR and EPA funded projects. If information gathered through public comment indicates a sufficient supply of meters that can meet domestic assembly requirements but not 55% content requirements, final waiver may be modified to require final assembly of meters in the U.S. and waive only the domestic content requirements.

  • To support the waiver’s basic assumptions, comments are also requested on the substitutability and compatibility of meter bodies and different meter systems.

  This proposed waiver was drafted in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and will apply to projects funded by both BOR and EPA. As a reminder, other currently active BABA waivers could provide simultaneous coverage. The WaterSMART waiver continues to provide limited coverage to projects funded under the 15.504, 15.507, and 15.514 assistance listing numbers through February 14, 2025 or February 14, 2026. The Small Grants waiver and the de minimis waiver provide coverage through February 20, 2028.

• Water and Energy Efficiency Grants Funding Opportunity and Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects Webinar

  The Bureau of Reclamation hosted a webinar on August 29, 2024 to discuss the FY24 Water and Energy Efficiency funding opportunity and the FY24/25 Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects funding opportunity. Click here to watch a recording of the live event.

  On November 14, 2023, The Bureau of Reclamation published a funding opportunity for the WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants (WEEG). This funding opportunity provides funding for projects that result in quantifiable water savings, implement renewable energy components, and support broader sustainability benefits. These projects conserve and use water more efficiently; increase the production of renewable energy; mitigate conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future water conflict; and accomplish other benefits that contribute to sustainability in the Western United States. The first round of selections were announced August 5, 2024. The second and last round of applications are due November 13, 2024.

  On November 2, 2023, The Bureau of Reclamation published a funding opportunity for the WaterSMART Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects (SWEP). This funding opportunity provides funding for small water efficiency improvements that have been identified through previous planning efforts. Projects eligible for funding include installation of flow measurement or automation in a specific part of a water delivery system, lining of a section of a canal to address seepage, or other similar projects that are limited in scope. The first round of selections were announced May 23, 2024, and the second round of selections were due July 9, 2024. The third round of applications are due January 14, 2025.

  If you have questions regarding applicant and project eligibility or the evaluation criteria, click here and select the applicable funding opportunity to schedule a time to talk with the program coordinator.   

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• Biden-Harris Administration Delivers $105 Million from Investing in America Agenda for Water Conservation and Efficiency Projects

  The Department of the Interior today announced a nearly $105 million investment as part of the President’s Investing in America agenda for 67 water conservation and efficiency projects that will enhance drought resilience across the nation. The investment comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and annual appropriations. Read More →

  Project Descriptions