WaterSMART: Desalination Construction Projects

Bureau of Reclamation$1,000–$120,000,000Due Aug 26, 2027

Government / tribal Large award Narrow eligibility

Deadline: Aug 26, 2027
Posted: May 14, 2026
Award amount: $1,000–$120,000,000
Focus areas: Natural Resources

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We’ll email you before Aug 26, 2027 so you have time to apply.

In plain English

This Bureau of Reclamation program funds planning, design, and construction of seawater or brackish-water desalination facilities, with awards reported up to about $120 million. Eligible applicants are states and their subdivisions and public agencies such as tribes, municipalities, irrigation, water, and wastewater districts, and all applicants must be located in one of 17 named Western states. Federal entities, foreign entities, individuals, and institutions of higher education are not eligible. WaterSMART construction projects typically require a substantial non-federal cost share, so confirm the cost-share terms in the full announcement; this is a large-award, geographically restricted program for public water agencies.

AI-generated summary to help you decide quickly — verify the official eligibility rules before applying.

Who can apply

Applicants eligible to receive funding under this NOFO include States, departments of a State, subdivisions of a State, or public agencies organized pursuant to a State law, such as: States, Tribes, municipalities, irrigation districts, and water districts, or wastewater districtsAll applicants must be located in one of the following States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Ineligible Applicants - Those not eligible include, but are not limited to, the following entities:Federal Governmental entitiesForeign entitiesIndividualsInstitutes of higher education

About this grant

Through WaterSMART, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to work cooperatively with States, Tribes, and other entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply and hydropower reliability. The WaterSMART Program demonstrably advances Trump administration priorities, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14154 (January 20, 2025): Unleashing American Energy (E.O.14154) and Secretarial Order 3418, and aligns with other priorities and requirements, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14332 (August 7, 2025): Improving Oversight in Federal Grantmaking (E.O. 14332). The WaterSMART: Desalination Construction Projects NOFO invites eligible applicants to submit proposals for the planning, design, and/or construction of facilities to desalinate seawater or brackish surface water or groundwater. By providing growing communities with new sources of local water supply, desalination projects diversify the water supply portfolio, increase water management flexibility during times of shortage, and make the water supply more reliable.

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Source: public records via Grants.gov. UseGrants is an independent aggregator, not affiliated with any funding agency. Always confirm details on the official listing before applying.