§1300 Pilot Program for Alternative Water Source Projects

Summary

Authorizes the Administrator to run a pilot grant program that helps pay for projects that make new or more reliable water supplies for cities, industry, and farms by conserving, reusing, reclaiming, or treating water, wastewater, or stormwater. The law defines two terms: "alternative water source project" — projects that provide municipal, industrial, or agricultural water by conserving, managing, reclaiming, reusing, or treating water (not including treatment or distribution plants); and "critical water supply needs" — current or reasonably expected future shortfalls shown in a statewide or regional plan covering at least 20 years. Grants may go to state, interstate, local, private utility, and nonprofit entities that have state authority to provide water in areas with those critical needs. Projects must be spread across different regions and environments, and any project that already got construction funds under the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 (43 U.S.C. 390h et seq.) cannot get these grants. Grant money can pay for engineering, design, construction, and final testing — but not for planning, feasibility studies, or operation, maintenance, repair, replacement, or rehabilitation. The federal share cannot be more than 50 percent of eligible costs. The program must be run under section 1251(g). The Administrator had to report results to Congress by September 30, 2004. Congress authorized $25,000,000 for each fiscal year 2022 through 2026, available until spent, and up to 2 percent of those funds may pay the Administrator’s administrative costs.