FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

August 19, 2022

CONTACT

Andrea Rodriguez

Communications Manager

(707) 331-2040 (mobile)

Andrea.Rodriguez@scwa.ca.gov

(Santa Rosa, CA) – Today the Bureau of Reclamation announced that the North Bay Water Reuse Program (NBWRP) will receive $6.9M for the Phase 2 Program as part of President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Help Communities Reduce Vulnerability to Drought. Appropriated federal funding will be used for the planning, design and construction of water reuse projects across the country. 
“As severe drought and water shortages are gripping the West and impacting folks in our community, coordinated local partnerships like the North Bay Water Reuse Program will be essential for dealing with the climate crisis and building resilience,” said Rep. Jared Huffman. “Water policy doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game, and these investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help address the worsening drought crisis and expand access to clean, reliable water for families, farmers, and wildlife. I’m glad to help deliver this critical funding to expand regional infrastructure to increase capacity, use, and distribution of recycled water, and I appreciate the local leadership making this happen.” 

“This much needed federal assistance of our Petaluma reuse projects is an important part of building resiliency in our water delivery system in this time of historic drought, said Supervisor David Rabbitt who represents the Second District of Sonoma County and is Chair of North Bay Water Reuse Authority. “We are grateful to our Federal, State and City partners on this project award that will continue to build out our recycled water projects that will help us become more sustainable with our water use and reuse in both incorporated and unincorporated Sonoma County.”   

North Bay Water Reuse Program: Phase 2 Program for the WaterSMART: Title XVI WIIN Act Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects application requested $6,934,655 in federal funds for three separate projects, with a combined total cost of $27,738,621.   

• Increase City of Petaluma’s Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility (ECWRF) Capacity Project. This project would include facility upgrades at the existing ECWRF to increase tertiary filtration and disinfection capacity by 2.12 million gallons per day (mgd). Currently, ECWRF is able to treat 4.68 mgd (5,242 AFY) to California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 22 tertiary disinfected standards. This project would install five new filter cells that mirror the existing treatment system and would also install banks of UV lamps in the existing, unused channel. These improvements would allow the City of Petaluma to produce additional tertiary treated recycled water to meet increasing recycled water demands. 
• The City of Petaluma Urban Recycled Water Expansion Project would extend recycled water pipelines that originate from the ECWRF to serve existing landscape customers currently served by the City of Petaluma’s potable water system. This funding will allow the City to construct a portion of the project including three sections of pipeline off an existing pipeline along Maria Drive that will serve parks, schools, and public landscaped areas. The total project yield is about 78 AFY.  
• The City of Petaluma Agricultural Recycled Water Expansion Phase 1 Project would extend recycled water pipelines from the ECWRF eastward and out Adobe Road to serve agricultural customers along Lakeville Highway. This project would efficiently utilize existing assets to increase the distribution of recycled water. The proposed pipeline alignment is along roads in Petaluma’s right of way, within already disturbed areas. This funding will allow the City to construct a pipeline along Adobe Road that will serve approximately 200-400 AFY for agriculture and vineyard irrigation. 

The NBWRP is a regional water recycling initiative encompassing over 350 square-miles in portions of Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties surrounding northern San Francisco Bay, known as San Pablo Bay. The Program is a coordinated effort of 11 municipal, water and wastewater agencies working collaboratively to develop recycled water to build capacity and resiliency into the regions water supply. Learn more at www.nbwra.org.