The Bureau of Reclamation's water reclamation and reuse program was authorized by the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act of 1992 (Title XVI of Public Law 102-575). Also known as Title XVI, the act directs the Secretary of the Interior to undertake a program to investigate and identify opportunities for water reclamation and reuse. The original act authorized Reclamation to participate in the construction of 5 recycling projects, 3 of which were located in Southern California -- the San Diego Area Water Reclamation Program, Los Angeles Area Water Reclamation and Reuse Project, and San Gabriel Basin Demonstration Project -- and 3 feasibility studies, with 1 located in Southern California -- the SoCal Comprehensive Water Reclamation and Reuse Study.

In 1996, Congress amended Title XVI and authorized Reclamation to participate in an additional 18 projects, 8 of which are located in Southern California - Long Beach Desalination Research and Development Project, North San Diego County Area Water Recycling Project, Calleguas Municipal Water District Recycling Project, Pasadena Reclaimed Water, Orange County Regional Water Reclamation Project - Phase I, Hi-Desert District Wastewater Collection and Reuse Facility (Yucca Valley), Mission Basin Brackish Groundwater Desalting Demonstration Project, and Long Beach Area Water Reclamation and Reuse Project.

Need More Information?

If you have any questions on the Title XVI program or would like to know how your project can receive Title XVI funding, contact Bill Steele, Water Recycling Program Manager, at wsteele@lc.usbr.gov or by phone at 951-695-5310. Guidelines for preparing Title XVI cost sharing and grant proposals can be found on-line at http://www.usbr.gov/pmts/writing/guidelines/ and additional information on agency eligibility for the program is available on the General Services Administration's Online Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.