DOI details $1 billion spending on water projects

Source: AWWA Streamlines Staff

US Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has detailed how the Bureau of Reclamation will spend $1 billion it is investing in water infrastructure projects — a quarter of which is heading to California to solve that state's water challenges.

Salazar said the $1 billion provided to Interior under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will go to the following water programs that passed a "rigorous merit-based process" to identify investments that meet DOI's highest priority mission needs, generate the largest number of jobs in the shortest period of time, and create lasting value for the American public.

$450 million for water supply needs (including water recycling projects and rural water projects)
$165 million for improving infrastructure reliability and safety
$235 million for environmental and ecosystem restoration
$50 million for the Central Utah Project
$40 million for emergency drought relief, primarily in California
$40 million for water conservation initiatives
$14 million for "green" buildings