Recent and Upcoming Water Reuse Activities

Announcements, Publications and Activities

Register Now for the March Demonstration Webinar on GIS-based Siting and Information Tool
The Electric Power Research Institute is hosting a webinar on March 23 at 2 p.m. EDT, to demonstrate the new Alternative Water Siting Tool, developed to advance water reuse within the power sector. This GIS-based tool helps to identify potential alternative water sources, such as treated municipal wastewater, for new or expanding power plants. The tool currently includes geospatial and informational data on thermal power plants and wastewater treatment plants, with future versions planned to incorporate additional sources of alternative water (e.g., saline aquifers).

The webinar will feature an overview of the tool and case studies that demonstrate practical applications. EPRI plans to develop the tool into a WRAP action this spring to serve a broader range of end-use planners. Please direct questions and feedback on the tool to Katie VanderEspt, kvanderespt@epri.com.

The ReWater Center Publishes Report on Onsite Water Systems
Onsite water reuse systems collect, treat and beneficially reuse a variety of wastewater sources near the point of generation. This issue of the Potable Water Reuse Report explores the growth of onsite water reuse across the U.S., including drivers and challenges for implementing these systems. The report also highlights key solutions to these barriers, such as clear permitting frameworks. Sign up to receive these reports! (Action 7.10: Implement the DoD-funded Water Reuse Consortium for Water Resiliency at Military and Municipal Facilities)

NMPWRC Hosts Webinar on Agricultural Reuse of Produced Water
Produced water, generated by oil and gas production operations, can be treated and reused for irrigation, dust suppression and other useful applications. The latest webinar in the New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium’s monthly series explored the results of a recent study on the use of treated produced water for agricultural irrigation. Presenters discussed the impacts of produced water on plant growth, soil conditions and microbial communities. Watch other webinars here. (Action 4.2: Implement New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium)

New Infographic on Recycled Water Treatment
This new infographic on EPA’s Water Reuse website illustrates an example of how water systems make recycled water safe to drink. It portrays the removal of trash and particles, harmful chemicals, and pathogens through wastewater treatment, advanced treatment and drinking water treatment. (Action 8.6: Develop Water Reuse Communication Tools)

The Congressional Research Service Releases a Publication on Desalination
Desalination: Converting Saline Water into a Municipal Water Source explains how desalination can augment municipal water supplies. This brief publication discusses the adoption of desalination across the U.S., advancement efforts and key technologies. It also describes some trade-offs of desalination and its alternatives, such as water reuse, aquifer recharge and water conservation efforts.

Study Explores Small Communities’ Willingness to Pay for Water Reuse
A new paper, Willingness to Pay for Water Reuse in Small Communities in the United States, analyzes the costs rural households are willing to pay to implement water reuse as a strategy to mitigate water shortages. This study, funded under an EPA grant to advance water reuse, assesses the economic feasibility of adopting reuse and finds that small communities contending with water restrictions are open to water recycling.

Water Reuse Funding Awards and Opportunities

EPA Announces $7 Billion in Newly Available WIFIA Funding
In November, the EPA announced $6.5 billion in Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act funding available for water systems, with an additional $550 million available to states. For this new round of funding, EPA has identified water reuse as an eligible activity under priority area D—Supporting Water Sector Innovation: EPA is prioritizing projects that incorporate new or innovative technology, which can play a significant role in helping states, tribes, and communities ensure the provision of clean, safe, and reliable water supplies. In particular, water reuse technology solves a variety of water challenges, such as expanding water resources to support economic development (e.g., artificial intelligence data centers) and alleviating the effects of drought. Learn more about available funding and the application process in the notice of funding availability and at monthly WIFIA Office Hours. (Action 6.2B: Support and Communicate WIFIA Funding)

EPA Approves New WIFIA Loans, Including $347 Million for Water Reuse
EPA approved new WIFIA loans that will invest in critical water infrastructure projects, including a water reuse effort in Fort Worth, Texas. This $347 million loan will be used to upgrade wastewater collection and treatment to support beneficial water reuse. The city will design and construct a water reclamation facility to meet the needs of its growing population while treating wastewater to be reused for industrial and irrigation purposes. (Action 6.2B: Support and Communicate WIFIA Funding)

WRF Receives $1.5 Million Grant from the California State Water Board
Since 2018, the California State Water Board has provided $4.5 million in funding to the Water Research Foundation (WRF) to support potable and non-potable water reuse research. This latest grant will provide an additional $1.5 million through 2030 to support projects aiming to advance water reuse in California. To help identify potential research initiatives, WRF will host a research needs workshop in February 2026. 

WRF Provides Nearly $6 Million in Research Funding for 13 Utility Projects
WRF’s Tailored Collaboration Program helps address utility-and regional-specific challenges by providing matching funds for utility-sponsored research projects. Under its 2025 Program, WRF provided up to $150,000 in matching funds for each of 13 new research projects, including a water reuse study. Together, WRF and utility-provided funding totals nearly $6 million. 

State Updates

Texas Invests $20 Billion in Water Infrastructure and Conservation
Under a new amendment to its State Constitution, Texas will allocate $1 billion annually for the next 20 years to bolster the reliability of its water supplies. This action will help strengthen the state’s water infrastructure, meet the demands of Texas’s growing population and develop new water sources through efforts including water reuse.

Looking for something?

This page is updated frequently. If you’re looking for previously posted content that is no longer here (e.g., a past webinar, published report), you may be able to find it in our Water Reuse Information Library or Curated Topical Reuse Resources page. The latest entry on the Topical Resources page spotlights onsite non-potable reuse.

Links to websites outside of the EPA website are provided for the convenience of the user. Inclusion of information about a website, an organization, a product, or a service does not represent endorsement or approval by EPA, nor does it represent EPA opinion, policy or guidance unless specifically indicated. EPA does not exercise any editorial control over the information that may be found at any non-EPA website.