Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Projects
🏛 Bureau of Reclamation
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Sep 12, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research organizations conducting innovative water treatment and desalination research. Eligible applicants include universities, national laboratories, government agencies, nonprofits, and private sector organizations with research capacity. Projects must focus on laboratory-scale or pilot-scale studies that reduce costs and barriers to treating impaired water for beneficial use.
The program supports two project categories: laboratory-scale bench studies (under 24 months) testing novel processes and materials, and pilot-scale projects (typically 24+ months) demonstrating feasibility at larger flow rates with natural water sources.
Research must show potential for widespread applicability and commercialization pathway. Projects should advance water supply development and support Bureau of Reclamation priorities for water resource management in the western United States.
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Program description
The Bureau of Reclamation”s Desalination and Water Purification Research (DWPR) Program aims to increase water supplies by reducing the costs, energy requirements, and other barriers to adoption of treating impaired water for beneficial uses.This NOFO invites proposals from eligible applicants to conduct innovative laboratory and pilot-scale water treatment research. Strong applications will demonstrate widespread applicability and benefits of the proposed research and provide a pathway for technology commercialization. This initiative supports the Bureau of Reclamation’s mission to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public by providing water managers with new and innovative technologies and approaches to develop additional water resources and increase water supply flexibility.The DWPR Program demonstrably advances Trump administration priorities, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14154 (January 20, 2025): Unleashing American Energy (E.O. 14154) and Secretarial Order 3418, and aligns with other priorities and requirements, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14332 (August 7, 2025): Improving Oversight in Federal Grantmaking (E.O. 14332).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (federal grant application form)
- Project Narrative describing research objectives and methods
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Organizational capacity documentation
- Letters of support (if partnerships involved)
- Resumes of key personnel
- Environmental compliance documentation (NEPA)
Program contact
- 👤 Bureau of Reclamation
- 📧 bor-sha-fafoa@usbr.gov
- 📞 tbd
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 15.506 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$800,000
-
$799,989
-
$799,908
-
$641,900
-
$612,059
-
$592,703
-
$482,079
-
$400,000
-
$400,000
-
$399,292
Top States by Funding
- CA 16 awards $4.7M
- CO 13 awards $4.0M
- NM 9 awards $2.3M
- TX 10 awards $2.1M
- MA 4 awards $1.6M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 15.506). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2019 | $2,744,960 | |
| 2020 est. | $1,250,000 | |
| 2021 | $4,390,542 | |
| 2022 | $7,296,994 | |
| 2023 | $2,154,896 | |
| 2024 | $2,892,671 | |
| 2025 est. | $500,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $3,300,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply to this program?
Universities, national laboratories, government agencies, nonprofits, and private companies with research capacity are eligible. Applicants must have the capability to conduct rigorous laboratory or pilot-scale water treatment research.
What types of research does the program support?
The program funds laboratory-scale bench studies and pilot-scale demonstrations of water treatment technologies. Projects must test novel processes, materials, or modifications that reduce costs and energy requirements for treating impaired water.
Is cost-sharing required?
No cost-sharing is required for this program. All eligible research costs are supported through grant or cooperative agreement funding.
How long do projects typically take?
Laboratory-scale projects should be completed within 24 months. Pilot-scale projects typically span 24-36 months or longer, depending on testing requirements and data collection needs.
What makes a competitive application?
Strong applications demonstrate clear innovation, potential for widespread applicability, a pathway to technology commercialization, and alignment with water supply development goals.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly articulate how your technology reduces treatment costs, energy consumption, or other barriers to water reuse adoption.
- Include realistic timelines and milestones that separate laboratory and pilot-scale work phases.
- Demonstrate a credible path to commercialization or real-world deployment of your technology.
- Use natural water sources in pilot-scale studies rather than synthetic feed water to ensure practical relevance.
- Address how your research supports water supply flexibility and resilience in water-stressed regions.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications lack clear commercialization pathway or evidence of market viability beyond laboratory proof-of-concept. Projects proposed at laboratory scale alone without progression plan toward pilot demonstration miss the program's intent to advance deployable solutions. Failure to address scalability and cost reduction in concrete terms weakens competitiveness compared to applications with specific performance targets.
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