North Bay Water Reuse Authority awarded federal funding to expand local water projects
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2015
Contact:
David Rabbitt, NBWRA Chair
Sonoma County Supervisor
& Water Agency Director
707-565-2241
Keith Caldwell, NBWRA Director
Napa County Supervisor
707-319-7374
Funding will support efforts to address critical water supply in the North Bay region
Santa Rosa, CA. – The North Bay Water Reuse Authority (NBWRA/Authority) has been awarded two grants from the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation, who announced this week they would invest nearly $50 million from their WaterSMART program in water efficiency and conservation projects in 12 western states.
The NBWRA is an organization of water and wastewater agencies working together on regional water recycling projects in the North Bay region of Napa, Sonoma and Marin counties and was awarded federal grant funding in two catagories; construction projects and feasibility studies.
The Authority received over $1.7 million toward construction of a recycled water project and another $450,000 for feasibility studies that will investigate how recycled water can be developed to offset supply demands and help address water supply shortages in the region.
With this grant funding, the Napa Sanitation District will be able to complete a key pipeline to deliver recycled water to a water-scare region east of the City of Napa. The Napa Milliken-Sarco-Tulocay (MST) pipeline project is one of many underway as part of the NBWRA Program.
“This federal grant is key to completing the pipeline and expanding water supply in our area, this is especially critical during a time when we have no idea when we will recover from this drought,” said Napa County Supervisor Keith Caldwell.
The MST pipeline project will serve local vineyards, Silverado Middle School and Tulocay Cemetery with plans to expand distribution to additional users.
“Like many projects, the MST pipeline has been driven by the need for irrigation water during our ongoing drought,” said Congressman Mike Thompson, representative for the region. “The pipeline will allow us to use recycled water for important irrigation projects, while also letting us conserve scarce and much needed potable water.”
“This grant allows us to stay on target for completing this project and ensures a stable water supply for our current recycled water customers as well as flexibility for adding additional customers,” said Tim Healy, General Manager of the Napa Sanitation District.
The Authority was also awarded $450,000 to conduct a feasibility study on Phase 2 of their Program to develop recycled water as a new supply for urban, agricultural and environmental water demands in the North Bay.
“The support and efforts of the Bureau of Reclamation continues to be critical to the completion of the NBWRA’s projects,” said Sonoma County Supervisor and Water Agency Director David Rabbitt, who also serves as chair of the NBWRA. “Throughout the region we are seeing real results and benefits from using recycled water as a drought-proof supply and are pushing ahead in Phase 2”
The Phase 2 feasibility study will evaluate water storage facilities that allow for year-round capture and use of recycled water and investigate where recycled water can be delivered to provide the greatest benefit to the region. The study will also include analysis of the impacts of climate change and prolonged drought on regional water supplies and options to put to beneficial use recycled water that historically has been lost to discharges in San Pablo Bay.
“The NBWRA is recognized as a leader in regional recycled water planning and this award of grant funds to investigate Phase 2 options demonstrates that regional planning pays off,” said Congressman Jared Huffman, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans and representative for Marin County and part of Sonoma County. “These North Bay communities have collaborated and planned their water future together and as a result, have been successful in securing vitally needed funding.”
The Bureau of Reclamation news release about WaterSMART awards can be found at http://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/newsrelease/detail.cfm?RecordID=49329
For more information about the North Bay Water Reuse Authority, visit https://www.nbwra.org/
To contact NBWRA email info@nbwra.org or call (707) 235-8965.