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Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Projects

Bureau of Reclamation

open
OpenLast verified: 2026-08-02

About This Grant

<p>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).</p>

Grant Summary

Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Projects is a Bureau of Reclamation grant providing $100K to $800K for small business, municipality, school district. Applications are due 2026-09-29 (open). Check eligibility and apply with FindGrants.

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Focus Areas

environment

Eligibility

  • The program office will review all proposed projects to determine whether the application is an eligible activity under the NOFO and can proceed to merit review evaluation. Applicants can apply for two categories of projects under this NOFO: Laboratory-Scale Projects. Laboratory-scale projects are typically bench-scale studies involving small flow rates. These projects are used to determine the viability of a novel process, new materials, or process modifications. Laboratory-scale projects can also include modeling studies, decision support tools, literature and technology reviews, etc. that address objectives identified in the Program Goals section. Research at this stage can involve a high degree of risk and uncertainty. These projects should be completed within 24 months of award. Pilot-Scale Projects. Pilot-scale projects test a novel technology or process at a sufficiently large scale to determine the practicality of implementing the technology. These projects should involve flow rates above 1 gallon per minute and use natural water sources rather than synthetic or laboratory-made feed water. Pilot-scale studies are used to generate data over a sufficient time period that can be used to estimate the operational requirements (e.g., labor, chemical addition, power requirements) of the process and show performance with respect to finished water quality goals. Pilot-scale projects are generally preceded by laboratory studies (funded previously by the DWPR Program or others) that demonstrate technology feasibility. These projects should be completed within 36 months of award. Projects not eligible for funding under this NOFO include, but are not limited to: Proposals for planning activities eligible under the WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning funding opportunity, Proposals for the construction of permanent research facilities or infrastructure, and Proposals for the testing of established water treatment processes for the purposes of generating site specific information.
small businessmunicipalityschool districtotheruniversitytribal governmentnonprofit

How to Apply

Funding Range

$100K$800K

Deadline

2026-09-29

Complexity
Medium
  1. 1Confirm your organization is eligible for Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Projects from Bureau of Reclamation, checking organization type, location, and any population or project requirements.
  2. 2Gather the required documents and information, including your organization details, project plan, and budget figures.
  3. 3Draft your application narrative and budget addressing the funder's priorities and review criteria. FindGrants can draft each section for you to review and edit.
  4. 4Review every section against the requirements checklist, then export a submission-ready application pack and submit it to Bureau of Reclamation before the deadline.
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Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Projects: Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Projects?

Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Projects is offered by Bureau of Reclamation and is generally open to small business, municipality, school district, other, university, tribal government, nonprofit. It is open to organizations nationwide unless the funder specifies otherwise. Review the specific eligibility terms before applying, since funders set their own requirements around organization type, location, and the population or project being served.

How much funding does the Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Projects provide?

Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Projects provides between $100K and $800K per award from Bureau of Reclamation. Actual award sizes depend on the scope of your project, available program funds, and the number of applicants, so build a budget that reflects realistic, allowable costs rather than the maximum figure.

When is the Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Projects deadline?

Applications for Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Projects are due 2026-09-29 (open). Because deadlines can change, verify the date with the funder, Bureau of Reclamation, and give yourself enough time to prepare a complete, competitive application before the close date.

How do you apply for the Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Projects?

To apply for Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Projects, confirm your eligibility, gather the required documents, and prepare a narrative and budget that address the funder's priorities. FindGrants guides you step by step and can draft each section, then exports a submission-ready application pack for this grant from Bureau of Reclamation.

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