On October 24, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $128 million in funding, supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to assist the City of Reno and Truckee Meadows Water Authority in building the OneWater Nevada Advanced Purified Water Facility at American Flat. Project construction will start in 2025 and the facility will produce high-quality drinking water to meet and sustain the region’s needs, once completed.
Funding from the EPA includes $55 million through the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, $70 million through the state’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and $3 million through Congressionally directed spending sponsored by Senator Rosen and Senator Cortez Masto. The project has also received $30 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding from the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation and support from area ratepayers.
Infrastructure improvements like these are what make our communities strong and resilient, which is why the Biden-Harris Administration has invested $50 billion in U.S. water infrastructure through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The once-in-a-generation funding brought by this Law, and projects such as this, help create good, family-supporting jobs and catalyze local economic growth today and into the future.
“EPA is proud to partner in state-of-the-art projects like this that build environmental sustainability and economic resiliency,” said EPA Regional Pacific Southwest Administrator Martha Guzman, “With the leadership of local, state, tribal, and federal partners the new OneNevada facility will provide long-term benefits to communities in Washoe County.”
“We’re proud to collaborate with the EPA, and our local partner the Truckee Meadows Water Authority, along with our local, state, and federal partners, on the OneWater Nevada Advanced Purified Water Facility at American Flat,” said Reno Vice Mayor Naomi Duerr. “This innovative project will provide a sustainable, drought-proof water source for the Biggest Little City, transforming traditional wastewater effluent management into long-term water resiliency and securing reliable resources for our growing community. It’s a shared vision that wouldn’t be possible without the support of our partners.”
“The Advanced Purifier Water Treatment Project at American Flat marks an important milestone for Nevada. As the state’s first category A+ water project, it highlights what we can achieve when we work together. With the support of our partners – the City of Reno, Truckee Meadows Water Authority, the U.S. EPA, and regional agencies – we are making real progress toward securing a dependable, drought-resistant water supply, while also safeguarding public health and protecting our environment. This project reflects our commitment to innovative water management and paves the way for sustainable solutions that will benefit both our communities and our economy,” said Jennifer Carr, Administrator of the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.
“We are grateful to the Environmental Protection Agency for their support in helping us secure critical funding and State Revolving Fund loans for the Advanced Purified Water Facility,” said Nate Allen, TMWA Director of Natural Resources. “This partnership allows us to expand the resilience and sustainability of our regional water resources, ensuring a reliable supply of high-quality, purified water for our community for generations to come. Developing innovative solutions to maintain a robust and reliable water supply is essential as our region faces increasing challenges from population growth and climate change. The funding support we’ve received for this project demonstrates a shared commitment across local, state, and federal levels to address these challenges proactively.”
The OneWater Nevada Advanced Purified Water Facility at American Flat will take highly treated effluent water from the Reno-Stead Water Reclamation Facility and put it through a multi-step purification process. This includes ozonation, biological carbon filtration, and ultraviolet disinfection. Once treated, the water will be injected into a groundwater aquifer at American Flat, north of Stead Airport. Storage in the aquifer adds a natural environmental buffer and offers additional water-quality benefits.
The facility will include an advanced water purification center, six miles of pipeline, and two injection wells at the American Flat Farm. The facility will eventually produce 2 million gallons of drinking water daily.
For more information on EPA’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments in water infrastructure visit EPA’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Water Infrastructure Investments.
For more information on the CSWRF visit EPA’s About the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) webpage.
For more information on how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides funding to improve our nation’s drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure, visit EPA’s Water Infrastructure Investments webpage.
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