Desalination Reauthorization Act

The Desalination Reauthorization Act extends the expiration dates for federal desalination programs established under previous legislation, ensuring continued support for water infrastructure projects. The bill allows the Secretary of the Interior to contribute up to 25 percent of the total costs for eligible ocean or brackish water desalination facilities located in western states, without imposing a specific dollar cap on individual project funding. Additionally, it authorizes competitive grants for advanced pilot technologies designed to test new methods for converting saline water into usable supply and managing brine waste. These pilot projects are required to include rigorous cost analyses to determine the economic feasibility of scaling up successful innovations.