This program provides funding to support brackish water and seawater desalination. Projects to be considered for funding should directly support local or regional water resources and directly or indirectly provide water supply benefits to the State.

Grant funds are provided as an incentive to local or regional entities to implement projects that produce state, regional, and local potable water supply or reliability benefits through the planning, design, and construction of feasible brackish and seawater desalination projects.

Grant funds are also provided to advance water desalination technology research pilot projects. Five types of projects will be funded: (1) construction projects for full scale desalination facilities; (2) feasibility studies to determine need for water supply projects; (3) environmental documentation to supplement a basic feasibility study; (4) design pilot projects for small scale prototypes of full-scale projects; and (5) research pilot projects to support small scale prototypes for devices, equipment, resources, or other technology to advance knowledge of desalination.

The draft Proposal Solicitation Package (PSP) was released on April 3, 2017 with an anticipated release of the final PSP on June 12, 2017 and proposals due by July 31, 2017.

Eligible applicants include special districts, joint power authorities, political subdivisions of the state, investor-owned utilities, and mutual water companies.

Applicants may collaborate on proposed projects using contractor-subcontractor relationships, joint ventures or other mechanisms.