Congresswoman Lee Helps Secure $26+ Million for Regional Water Recycling to Help Keep More Water in Lake Mead

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) announced that the Department of the Interior (DOI) has awarded more than $26 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. Earlier this year, 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, my legislation to support large-scale water recycling and tackle severe drought in the West was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that I helped negotiate and pass. Now, I’m proud to see that it’s continuing to deliver for southern Nevada,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “This investment will keep more water in Lake Mead, reduce demand on our precious water resources, and build long-term resiliency for sustainable water use in the West.”  

This award was part of a broader $125 million investment for large-scale water recycling projects in the West, which also builds on a previous, similar $179 million investment earlier this year that also included this same project.  

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