Today, Rep. Grace Napolitano made the following statement on the Bureau of Reclamation’s announcement regarding funding now available through WaterSMART:

“California can benefit from WaterSMART’s opportunity for funding projects already approved by Congress, which will produce more wet water to meet existing water demands and help prepare for future drought cycles,” Napolitano said. “This will create good paying jobs and help attract business in areas with low employment.”

Through Title XVI, the Bureau of Reclamation provides funding for water recycling projects that reclaim and reuse municipal, industrial, domestic or agricultural wastewater and naturally impaired ground or surface waters. Applicants are eligible to request cost-shared funding for the planning, design, or construction of these projects.

Rep. Napolitano sits on the Natural Resources Committee and serves as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Water and Power.

Background:

·        The WaterSMART program was established by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar in February 2010.

·        It allows all bureaus of the Department to work with states and local entities to pursue a sustainable water supply.

·        Link to WaterSMART Three-Year Progress Report: http://www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART/docs/WaterSMART-thee-year-progress-report.pdf

·        The funding opportunity is available by searching funding opportunity number R13SF80002 on www.grants.gov.

·         Proposals must be submitted as indicated on www.grants.gov by Dec. 12, 2012 at 4 p.m. MST.

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