The US Bureau of Reclamation has unveiled plans this year to invest in water reuse and efficiency upgrades to the tune of US$ 23 million.

The move followed water industry pressure when eight sector groups in a joint letter insisted that the bureau spend some of a US$ 100 million in drought response funding to reuse.

The letter included the finding that recycled water projects currently proposed in in 14 states could produce more than 900 Ml of additional water supply. The signatories said that funding reuse projects would have a “direct, immediate, and powerful impact on extending water supplies, improving reliability, and enhancing economic development.”

The US$ 23 million allocation will include US$ 9 million for Watersmart Grants which provide cost-shared funding for projects including water and energy efficiency, system optimization review grants, advanced water treatment and pilot and demonstration project grants and grants to develop climate analysis tools.

Another $US 9 million will be earmarked for the Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Programme which identifies and investigates opportunities to reclaim and reuse wastewater and naturally impaired ground and surface water in the 17 western states and Hawaii. A further US$ 5 million will go to support water recycling initiatives under California’s Central Valley Project.