Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Projects

Background
The United States Department of the Interior (Department), Bureau of Reclamation’s (Reclamation) Desalination and Water Purification Research Program (DWPR) works with Reclamation researchers and partners to develop innovative, cost-effective, and technologically efficient ways to desalinate or treat water. The DWPR Program aligns with Executive Order 14008, “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad,” by investing in development and application of advanced water treatment technologies that expand access to otherwise unusable water resources, thereby increasing water supply flexibility under the risks of long-term climate change and shorter-term drought.

DWPR funding plays a critical role in iterating an idea from the lab to a real-world demonstration, which yields products that serve the water treatment community and attract commercialization interest. Through DWPR, research sponsors partner with Reclamation to address a broad range of desalting and water purification needs. Reclamation is interested in research where the benefits are widespread and where private-sector entities are not able to make the full investment and assume all the risks. Reclamation is also interested in research that has a national significance—where the issues are of large-scale concern and the benefits accrue to a large sector of the public. DWPR program activities further support multiple related initiatives related to the Water Subcabinet such as the National Water Reuse Action Plan and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Security Grand Challenge.

Grant Details
The objective of this NOFO is to invite private industries, universities, water utilities, and other research sponsors to submit applications that address the DWPR goals and objectives through laboratory- or pilot-scale studies. The goal of the DWPR Program is to increase water supplies by reducing the cost, energy consumption, and environmental impacts of treating impaired and otherwise unusable waters.

This DWPR funding opportunity invites applicants to address objectives such as reducing energy consumption and lowering desalination costs, improving membrane technologies, developing novel approaches for desalination that reduce primary energy use and environmental impacts, among others.

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants eligible to receive financial assistance to fund activities under this NOFO include individuals, institutions of higher education, profit organizations, state and local governmental entities, non-profit organizations, federally funded research and development centers, and Indian Tribal Governments and organizations. Foreign entities are not eligible for funding under this program. Federal agencies are also not eligible to apply.

Period of Performance
Anticipated award date: 09/30/2023.
Anticipated project completion date for Funding Group I: 09/30/2025.
Anticipated project completion date for Funding Group II: 09/30/2026.

Grant Value
Approximately $2,000,000 is available for this NOFO.
Up to $250,000 per award for Funding Group I – Laboratory-Scale Projects that can be completed within 2 years.
Up to $800,000 per award for Funding Group II – Pilot-Scale Projects that can be completed within 3 years.

Place of Performance
The work will be conducted at various locations including Federal facilities such as Alamogordo Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility or Yuma Water Quality Improvement Center.