Congresswoman Lee Announces Regional Water Recycling Funding to Support the Needs of Nearly 500,000 People

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) announced that the Department of the Interior (DOI) has awarded $99 million to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to advance a large-scale water recycling facility expected to deliver up to 118,590 acre-feet of recycled water annually — enough to meet the average annual needs of more than 470,000 people. The Southern Nevada Water Authority is also helping fund a portion of the project, which will reduce California’s reliance on water from the Colorado River and keep more water in Lake Mead and southern Nevada. 

DOI’s investment in this regional initiative was made possible by Congresswoman Lee’s Large-Scale Water Recycling Project Investment Act, which was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that Lee helped negotiate and pass. Last month, Congresswoman Lee introduced legislation to extend this Western water recycling grant program for another six years and more than double its funding authorization from $450 million to $1 billion. 

“Last Congress, I led my colleagues in introducing large-scale water recycling legislation to tackle severe drought in the West — I was proud then to ensure it was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and I’m proud now to see that it’s delivering for southern Nevada,” said Congresswoman Lee. “This investment will keep water in Lake Mead, reduce demand on our precious water resources, and build long-term resiliency for sustainable water use in the West. That’s exactly what Nevadans want and deserve.” 

This award was part of a broader $179 million investment in innovative water reuse projects to strengthen drought resilience across the West. 

As Vice-Chair of the bipartisan Colorado River Caucus, Congresswoman Susie Lee has been dedicated to finding solutions to the worst drought in the American West in 12 centuries. This Congress, Lee has introduced bipartisan legislation to close the biggest data gap in water management and led bipartisan calls for action in the Colorado River negotiations following a series of missed deadlines, as well as a bill to unlock funding for Hoover Dam. Last year, Congresswoman Lee announced that $63 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has been awarded to 13 water infrastructure projects across Nevada.   

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