State funds and convenes recycled‑water research partnerships to speed potable reuse and lower treatment costs
April 07, 2026 | State Water Resources Control Board, Boards and Commissions, Executive, California
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
The State Water Resources Control Board used an informational session April 7 to highlight several research partnerships intended to accelerate recycled‑water deployment in California and reduce technical and cost barriers to potable reuse.
Board staff summarized a recently completed $2.5 million research agreement with the National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI), led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which pursued low‑cost desalination, low‑cost advanced oxidation, digital twin models for facility resilience and innovations in resource recovery. Staff said the NAWI projects produced prototypes, tools and new firms that are now being tested with utilities.
The board also announced two active grants: a $1.5 million agreement with the Water Research Foundation (WRF) that will fund a prioritized portfolio of California‑focused research topics; and a $1.4 million agreement with the National Water Research Institute (NWRI) to support the CalVal initiative, adapting Australia's validation framework to provide clearer guidance for treatment validation for indirect potable reuse projects. Utility and research partners — including Orange County Water District, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Monterey Peninsula Water Management District — described how the collaborations will reduce permit uncertainty, inform design and accelerate regional potable reuse projects.
Utility leaders, researchers and board staff stressed the investments’ leverage: modest state research grants have helped draw federal funding and utility cost‑share and allowed pilot demonstrations, including a DPR trailer test train, small‑system reverse osmosis pilots for disadvantaged communities, and advanced treatment pilots in multiple utilities.
Why it matters: California’s recycled water goals (800,000 acre‑feet by 2030, 1.8 million by 2040) require faster, lower‑cost treatment, regulatory pathways and shared technical guidance. Staff said these collaborative grants are intended to provide such validated practices and reduce uncertainty that slows project permitting and investment.
Board staff summarized a recently completed $2.5 million research agreement with the National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI), led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which pursued low‑cost desalination, low‑cost advanced oxidation, digital twin models for facility resilience and innovations in resource recovery. Staff said the NAWI projects produced prototypes, tools and new firms that are now being tested with utilities.
The board also announced two active grants: a $1.5 million agreement with the Water Research Foundation (WRF) that will fund a prioritized portfolio of California‑focused research topics; and a $1.4 million agreement with the National Water Research Institute (NWRI) to support the CalVal initiative, adapting Australia's validation framework to provide clearer guidance for treatment validation for indirect potable reuse projects. Utility and research partners — including Orange County Water District, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Monterey Peninsula Water Management District — described how the collaborations will reduce permit uncertainty, inform design and accelerate regional potable reuse projects.
Utility leaders, researchers and board staff stressed the investments’ leverage: modest state research grants have helped draw federal funding and utility cost‑share and allowed pilot demonstrations, including a DPR trailer test train, small‑system reverse osmosis pilots for disadvantaged communities, and advanced treatment pilots in multiple utilities.
Why it matters: California’s recycled water goals (800,000 acre‑feet by 2030, 1.8 million by 2040) require faster, lower‑cost treatment, regulatory pathways and shared technical guidance. Staff said these collaborative grants are intended to provide such validated practices and reduce uncertainty that slows project permitting and investment.
View the Full Meeting & All Its Details
This article offers just a summary. Unlock complete video, transcripts, and insights as a Founder Member.
✓
Watch full, unedited meeting videos
✓
Search every word spoken in unlimited transcripts
✓
AI summaries & real-time alerts (all government levels)
✓
Permanent access to expanding government content
30-day money-back guarantee
