Washington, DC – As the current administration prepares to announce elements of its infrastructure proposal, Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-09) has introduced legislation calling for the authorization of 23 water recycling projects to bolster California’s water infrastructure and bring more stability to the region’s water supply.
Rep. McNerney’s bill, the Western Water Recycling and Drought Relief Act, calls on Congress to authorize 23 regional water recycling projects that span from California’s Central Valley, Central Coast, and San Francisco Bay Area to Hawaii. When funded and constructed, these projects would provide nearly 75,000 acre-feet of new water – enough to meet the needs of over half a million residents.
“Investing in forward-thinking solutions such as water recycling is a critical part of a larger, comprehensive approach to addressing California’s long-term needs when it comes to our water supply and our nation’s long-term water policy,” said Congressman McNerney. “We’ve seen the benefits of these investments in my district where Delta Diablo in Antioch, CA has not only improved water supply reliability, but has also helped to reduce wastewater discharge into the fragile Bay-Delta ecosystem.”
The Western Water Recycling and Drought Relief Act is co-sponsored by Reps. John Garamendi (CA-03), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Jackie Speier (CA-14) and Eric Swalwell (CA-15), and has been endorsed by a number of stakeholders, including:
Jayne Strommer, Executive Director, Western Recycled Water Coalition
“Our Western Recycled Water Coalition members have invested in projects that will provide critical water supplies across their communities for agriculture, industry, municipal facilities, and augmenting potable water supplies. This timely legislation will allow a federal funding partnership for coalition members to leverage local and state funds for project construction.”
Pete Longmire, Board Chair, Delta Diablo
“This investment in critical infrastructure will boost economic development, support more than 10,000 jobs and provide reliable water supplies across industries and communities. We greatly appreciate how Congressman McNerney continues to be a steadfast champion for sustainable water solutions.”
List of 23 Water Recycling Projects
- Benicia Water Reuse Project
- Brentwood Recycled Water Project
- Central Dublin Recycled Water Distribution and Retrofit Project
- Central Redwood City Recycled Water Project
- City of Pleasanton Recycled Water Project
- Concord Recycled Water Project
- Contra Costa County Refinery Recycled Water Project, Phase 1
- Delta Diablo Recycled Water Expansion Project
- Delta Diablo High Purity Water Treatment Facility
- Dublin and San Ramon Recycled Water Expansion Project
- Hayward Recycled Water Project
- Ironhouse Sanitary District Cypress Recycled Water Project
- Ironhouse Sanitary District Industrial Recycled Water Project
- Ironhouse Sanitary District Direct Potable Reuse Project
- Mountain View Recycled Water System Expansion
- North Valley Regional Recycled Water Project
- Palo Alto Recycled Water Pipeline Project
- Pure Water Monterey a Groundwater Replenishment Project
- San Jose Water Company Recycled Water Project
- Sunnyvale Continuous Recycled Water Production Project
- Waikoloa Beach Resort Wastewater Reclamation Facility Expansion Project
- West Bay Sanitary District Recycled Water Project
- Wolfe Road Recycled Water Project
# # #
Rep. Jerry McNerney proudly serves the constituents of California’s 9th Congressional District that includes portions of San Joaquin, Contra Costa, and Sacramento Counties. For more information on Rep. McNerney’s work, follow him on Facebook and on Twitter @RepMcNerney
