Sonoma County Water Agency Receives $4.7 Million Grant

From the United States House of Representatives:

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) and U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-2) announced a $4.7 million grant for the North Bay Water Reuse Authority through the Bureau of Reclamation’s Title XVI WaterSMART grant program.

With this funding, the North Bay Water Reuse Authority (NBWRA), a joint authority made up of three counties and seven water and sanitation agencies, will be able to complete the following projects under Phase 1 of the Program’s authorization: the Novato Central Service Area Treatment Plant Expansion and Distribution Project, the Novato South Service Area/LGVSD-MMWD Recycled Water Project, and the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District (SVCSD) Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project.

The Novato Central Service Area Treatment Plant Expansion and Distribution Project is a partnership between the Novato Sanitary District (NSD) and North Marin Water District (NMWD). The Project will implement service in the Novato Central Service Area through expansion of the Recycled Water Facility at the NSD wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and construction of a recycled water distribution system serving users south of the WWTP.

The Novato South Service Area is a project of the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District (LGVSD) and the Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD). The Recycled Water Project will expand LGVSD’s tertiary treatment capacity for urban landscaping uses and for additional recycled water projects in the future.

Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District (SVCSD) Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project is comprised of approximately 1,000 feet of 8- to 24-inch pipeline and association pumping upgrades within the District’s wastewater treatment plant.

The federal funds requested in this application represent approximately 19.4 percent of the NBWRP Authorization. These funds would bring the total NBWRP Phase 1 federal funding received to $25,000,000, or 100 percent of the federal funds authorized for Phase 1 of the Program.

“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 North Bay Water Reuse Program is one of seven water and reclamation and reuse projects in California receiving a total of $30 million in funding from the Bureau of Reclamation’s Title XVI program, which provides funding to support local water recycling and reuse projects.

WaterSMART is the U.S. Department of the Interior’s sustainable water initiative that uses the best available science to improve water conservation and help water resource managers identify strategies to narrow the gap between supply and demand. Since its establishment in 2010, WaterSMART has provided approximately $629 million in competitively awarded funding to non-federal partners, including tribes, water districts, municipalities and universities through WaterSMART Grants and the Title XVI Program.

Proposals were ranked through a published set of criteria in which points were awarded for projects that effectively stretch water supplies and contribute to water supply sustainability, address water quality concerns or benefit endangered species, incorporate the use of renewable energy or address energy efficiency, deliver water at a reasonable cost relative to other water supply options, and meet other program goals.

Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California’s 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties.  He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.