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News About the North Bay Water Reuse Authority

10 Jun 2016

North Bay Water Reuse Authority awarded over $4.7 million in federal funding to expand local water projects

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2016

Contact: David Rabbitt, NBWRA Chair
Sonoma County Supervisor
& Water Agency Director|
707-565-2241

Funding will support efforts to address critical water supply shortages with recycled water in the North Bay region

Santa Rosa, CA. >>> The North Bay Water Reuse Authority (NBWRA/Program) has been awarded a grant from the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation, who announced today they would invest $30 million from their WaterSMART program for seven projects that will provide recycled water to California communities and promote water and energy efficiency.

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. The NBWRA Program will receive over $4.7 million to provide recycled water for agricultural, environmental, industrial, and landscape uses throughout the three counties. The Program reduces both reliance on local and imported surface water and groundwater supplies, and reduces the amount of treated effluent released to San Pablo Bay and its tributaries.

Agencies and projects being funded include:

  • Novato Sanitary District and North Marin Water District to complete the Novato Central Service Area Treatment Plant Expansion and Distribution Project.
  • The Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District and Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) to replace an aging MMWD facility and provide a resilient water supply.
  • Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District to provide improvements and efficiency of the treatment facilities and distribution system in Sonoma County.

“The North Bay Water Reuse Authority is leading the way when it comes to finding the long-term, science-based solutions we need to address our ongoing drought,” said Rep. Thompson. “By recycling and reusing our water supply, we can help offset our drought-induced water shortages in a big way. I’m proud to have been able to help secure the federal funds needed to move these important projects forward.”

“Even after El Nino, we still have plenty of work to do to improve regional water resilience, and the North Bay Water Reuse Authority’s work is a proven way for us to improve our water reliability,” said Rep. Huffman. “Making sure these investments get the federal support they need is vital to our ability to respond to the challenges of drought and climate change.”

“We’re excited to receive this Title XVI grant and grateful for the continued support of Congressman Thompson and Congressman Huffman,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, Chair of the North Bay Water Reuse Authority. “The North Bay Water Reuse Program leverages funds and has been successful through the ongoing cooperation and collaboration at the federal, state, and local level by taking a unique watershed approach to recycled water that builds resiliency and strengthens our overall water supply.”

The Bureau of Reclamation news release about WaterSMART awards can be found at http://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/newsrelease/detail.cfm?RecordID=55029

For more information about the North Bay Water Reuse Authority, visit https://www.nbwra.org/

To learn more about WaterSMART, please visit http://www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART.

To contact NBWRA email info@nbwra.org or call (707) 235-8965.