Lee, Ciscomani Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Boost Western Large-Scale Water Recycling Efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) and Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) introduced the bipartisan Large-Scale Water Recycling Reauthorization Act to extend a federal grant program for large-scale water recycling projects in the Colorado River Basin and throughout the West.

“We need to save every drop of water we can to combat the ongoing, drought-driven water crisis in Nevada and throughout the West. Large-scale water recycling works,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “That’s exactly why we need to reauthorize the Large-Scale Water Recycling Program as soon as possible. This critical program was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that I helped get across the finish line. I look forward to seeing it reauthorized for another five years to continue delivering the water resources our communities need for our shared future.”

“Water is the lifeblood of Arizona,” said Congressman Juan Ciscomani. “As we face worsening drought in Arizona, I am proud to co-lead this critical legislation which will help Western communities, like Southern Arizona, bolster their conservation efforts through water recycling efforts.”

The Bureau of Reclamation’s successful Large-Scale Water Recycling Program was originally made possible by Congresswoman Lee’s legislation and was incorporated into the landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which she also helped negotiate and pass. Lee’s new bipartisan legislation reauthorizes this essential federal program for another five years, from 2026 to 2031. Her bill comes as the American West continues to confront the effects of one of the worst droughts in history.

To date, the Large-Scale Water Recycling Program has provided more than $125 million to support the ongoing partnership between the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) on Pure Water Southern California, a California-based regional water recycling program that will purify and reuse treated wastewater that currently is lost to the Pacific Ocean. At full scale, Pure Water Southern California will produce 150 million gallons of purified water per day — enough to serve about 500,000 households. SNWA is contributing a portion of the non-federal funding for the project to MWD, which will reduce California’s reliance on water from the Colorado River and keep more water in Lake Mead and southern Nevada.  

“This federal funding remains critical to helping accelerate the development of recycled water systems on a scale that would not otherwise be possible,” said John Entsminger, Southern Nevada Water Authority General Manager. “This is a smart investment that improves water supply reliability for millions of Americans, while helping communities build resiliency and respond to drought conditions.”

“We are all looking towards ways to reduce our reliance on the Colorado River and Reclamation’s Large-Scale Water Recycling Grant Program helps fund projects that do just that,” said Deven Upadhyay, General Manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. “Large-scale facilities currently in the works will be an essential tool for a sustainable water future in the Western U.S. and the federal funding received is essential and matched 3:1 by local funding. Metropolitan appreciates Reps. Lee and Ciscomani for introducing this bill to help advance these projects.”

“Arizona communities are planning for new water resource management strategies due to changing environments, continued population growth, and new industrial development,” said John Kmiec, Director of Tucson Water and President-Elect of the WateReuse Association. “The bill being introduced by Representatives Ciscomani and Lee today will help communities across Arizona and the West unlock the multiple benefits of water recycling to build and strengthen our economies while protecting public health and the environment.”

“The Large-Scale Water Recycling Projects Competitive Grants Program helps communities, states, and whole regions build long-term, reliable water supplies to enable population growth, support economic expansion, and protect the environment and public health,” said Bruno Pigott, Executive Director of the WateReuse Association. “WateReuse applauds Representatives Lee and Ciscomani for their leadership in ensuring that this critical program continues into the future.”

Lee’s work to protect southern Nevada’s water:

• Lee helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act — the most significant action on the climate crisis in our history, including $4 billion in investments specifically for water conservation along the Colorado River Basin.
• Lee’s Large-Scale Water Recycling Project Investment Act was signed into law as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
• Lee secured a pair of provisions in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024 to improve Laughlin’s water system and enhance the Las Vegas Wash program.
• This Congress, Lee successfully fought to defeat proposals to sell Nevada’s public lands and send the proceeds back to Washington to offset permanent tax breaks to billionaires.
  • Since 1998, the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) has ensured that the revenue from federal land sales in Southern Nevada stays in the state. Ten percent of SNPLMA funds go directly to SNWA — and, to date, SNPLMA has generated more than $368 million to fund Nevada’s water priorities and infrastructure needs.
• Lee is co-championing a lands bill with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto that would enable Clark County to responsibly pursue new development across the next half-century while maintaining and building upon SNPLMA.
• Lee and Cortez Masto are also working together to advance the Help Hoover Dam Act — a bipartisan, bicameral bill that would recover more than $50 million in stranded funding for the dam.

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