Recent and Upcoming Water Reuse Activities
Recent Releases
Updated November 2026
Suppliers Partnership Hosts a Workshop to Advance Water Reuse in the Automotive Industry
Reliable water resources are key for automotive manufacturing, supply chain resilience and environmental performance. Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP)’s recent workshop convened auto manufacturers, tiered suppliers and environmental service providers to gather insight into the challenges these stakeholders face in implementing water reuse. SP plans to leverage participants’ input to explore water reuse needs and opportunities in the automotive sector and identify potential outputs. (Action 5.15: Identify Opportunities for Reuse in the Automotive Value Chain).
Watch a Webinar on DOE’s Plant Water Profiler Tool
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s most recent webinar, “Leveraging DOE Tools to Quantify Plant Water Reuse,” explored how DOE’s Plant Water Profiler can help quantify water usage in manufacturing facilities and identify opportunities for savings. Check out the full series schedule! (Action 4.10: Advance Reuse and Desalination Technologies Through the Second Phase of the National Alliance for Water Innovation)
Read an Article about Drought in the U.S.
Water reuse is a valuable water resource management strategy that can help communities increase their resilience to drought. In addition to drought planning, monitoring, and prediction, this article discusses federal resources available to address drought, including those that support water reuse and recycling.
WateReuse Hosts Webcast on ATP Monitoring for Non-Potable Water Reuse
“Advancing Water Reuse with Automated ATP Monitoring” describes how automated adenosine triphosphate (ATP) monitoring can be used to verify the performance of distributed water reuse systems in near-real time, ultimately helping detect treatment process failures and facilitate decision-making during operations. This webcast presents information from Application of Automated ATP Monitoring for Distributed Non-Potable Water Reuse—System Performance Verification (Water Research Foundation project 5319).
New Mexico Produced Water Reuse Consortium is Seeking Presenters
The NMPWRC is seeking presentations from stakeholders interested in sharing their expertise on produced water and water management during one of their monthly webinars. The monthly webinar series highlights produced water research, treatment technologies, reuse, policy and other related efforts. (Action 4.2: Implement NMPWRC)
Water Reuse Funding Awards and Opportunities
EPA Announces $109 Million WIFIA Loan to Increase Water Supply Reliability in Honolulu, Hawai'i
EPA announced a $109 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, which serves parts of Oahu, Hawai'i. This loan will help the Board design and build a large-scale reverse osmosis seawater desalination plant that will feature a recycled water pipeline and provide 1.7 million gallons of water each day to island residents. By establishing an alternative drinking water source for the island, the Kalaeloa Seawater Desalination Facility Project will increase water supply reliability and reduce reliance on groundwater aquifers. (Action 6.2B: Support and Communicate WIFIA Funding)
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is seeking proposals from Water Resources Research Institutes for projects to measure and forecast data center and other industrial water usage. Funding is available for applicants seeking to understand and predict industrial water demands on public supply systems. Applications must be submitted by November 12, 2026, at 5:00 PM (ET).
Submit a Nomination for the 2027 Industrial Water Reuse Innovation Award
The annual Industrial Water Reuse Innovation Award recognizes companies, technology providers and engineering partners that demonstrate leadership in industrial water recycling and reuse. By highlighting exemplary organizations and sharing replicable success stories, this award aims to encourage broader adoption of industrial water reuse as a core water stewardship, business and innovation strategy. Nominations are due February 1, 2027. (Action 8.4: Establish a Water Reuse Champion Award Program)
In Case You Missed It
EPA Launches G20 Initiative to Advance Water Security
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin launched the G20 Water Reuse Initiative, advancing a shared framework for expanding the safe reuse of treated water as demand from industry, agriculture and energy production continues to rise. The initiative is built on a technology-neutral, “fit-for-purpose” approach — treating water to the quality its intended use requires — rather than requiring every application to meet a single standard.
The WateReuse Association Releases a Guide for States Developing Water Reuse Regulations
Developing Water Reuse Regulations: A State-Level Guide supports states developing or revising water reuse regulations for a variety of end-use applications. It offers a framework to guide the regulatory development process and includes state rulemaking case studies among other helpful resources.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Publishes Report on PFAS Treatment
A new white paper from the U.S. Chamber explores treatment technologies for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and policy solutions to help support their adoption. “PFAS Treatment Technologies & Policy Outlook” calls for voluntary approaches to promote industrial water reuse to reduce PFAS in the environment.
USDA-NRCS Proposes New Water Reuse Conservation Practice Standard
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is requesting comments on the National Handbook of Conservation Practices used by state conservationists nationwide. The proposed revisions include a new standard, On-Farm Recharge (Code 641), which establishes criteria to support groundwater recharge on cropland. (Action 2.12: Leverage Existing USDA Programs for Consideration of Agricultural Water Reuse)
The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program accelerates investment in critical water infrastructure projects by providing long-term, low-cost financing to water and wastewater systems. This $251 million loan will help the Las Virgenes-Triunfo Public Financing Authority in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, California, make improvements to several drinking water treatment plants. These projects will advance water reuse technologies to help address aging infrastructure, increase capacity to meet the community’s current and future water demands, and strengthen resilience to droughts and wildfires. (Action 6.2B: Support and Communicate WIFIA Funding)
Topics Released for Upcoming EPA SBIR 2026 Phase I Solicitation
EPA’s 2026 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I solicitation supports eligible small businesses in the development and commercialization of innovative environmental technologies. EPA is calling for American small businesses to apply for Phase I awards of up to $100,000 to demonstrate proof of concept of technologies responsive to one of this year’s SBIR solicitation topics, which include monitoring technologies for water reuse. Following Phase I, successful awardees may apply to receive up to $400,000 in Phase II funding. Applications must be submitted by November 8, 2026, at 11:59 PM (ET). (Action 7.5: Coordinate and Promote Water Reuse Technology in Federal SBIR Programs)
EPA Announces $10.8 Million in Available Grant Funding to Strengthen Water Sector Workforce
EPA announced the availability of $10.8 million in grant funding to support training for workers in the water sector. The water workforce plays a key role in treating our nation’s drinking water and providing wastewater services that protect human health and the environment. The Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant program provides access to workforce opportunities and builds career pipelines in the water sector. It also supports collaboration among federal, state and local governments as well as institutions of higher education, apprentice programs, labor organizations, high schools and other community-based organizations.
DOE's National Alliance for Water Innovation Seeks Proposals for Industrial Water Reuse Technologies
NAWI issued an RFP to accelerate the development and demonstration of affordable, innovative, onsite water-reuse systems and improve the safety, security, and affordability of America’s water supply. This $12 million RFP targets three high-priority, non-traditional water sources at U.S. industrial sites: cooling water, process and rinse water, and wastewater treatment effluent. Interested applicants must submit a concept paper by September 15, 2026, at 5 p.m. PT to be eligible to submit a full proposal. Full proposals are due by November 24, 2026, at 5 p.m. PT. View additional information on the RFP. (Action 4.10: Advance Reuse and Desalination Technologies through the Second Phase of NAWI)
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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.
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