WaterSMART Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program Funding for Fiscal Year 2013 | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): WaterSMART Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program (FY 2013) - R13SF80002

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This was the WaterSMART Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program funding opportunity for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 (Funding Opportunity Number R13SF80002). It was a discretionary federal grant competition run by the U.S. Department of the Interior through the Bureau of Reclamation (Denver Office).

2) Which federal agency administered the competition?

The U.S. Department of the Interior administered it through the Bureau of Reclamation, with the administering office listed as the Bureau of Reclamation's Denver Office.

3) What larger initiative does this program fall under?

This opportunity sat under Interior's broader WaterSMART initiative, which is intended to provide federal leadership on using water more efficiently, aligning water and energy policies, supporting long-term sustainability of natural resources, and coordinating water conservation work across Interior bureaus.

4) What is the main purpose of the Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program in this notice?

The purpose highlighted in the notice was to help communities and water providers develop dependable water supplies by reclaiming and reusing sources such as wastewater and impaired waters, particularly in areas where supplies are constrained and competition for water is increasing.

5) What types of projects were the focus of this opportunity?

The competition focused on Title XVI water reclamation and reuse projects.

6) How does this notice define a qualifying water reuse project?

Under the Title XVI definition referenced in the notice, a qualifying water reuse project is one that reclaims and reuses municipal, industrial, domestic, or agricultural wastewater, as well as naturally impaired groundwater and/or surface waters.

7) What kinds of end uses can reclaimed water support, according to the notice?

The notice emphasized that reclaimed water can support many end uses, including environmental restoration, fish and wildlife benefits, groundwater recharge, municipal and domestic supply, industrial uses, agriculture and irrigation, power generation support, and recreation.

8) Why was water reuse emphasized in the Western United States?

The announcement framed reuse as one of the most direct ways to stretch limited water supplies in the Western United States by creating additional supply options and reducing pressure on traditional sources.

9) What outcomes or benefits were Title XVI projects expected to provide?

The notice described Title XVI projects as intended to develop and supplement both urban and irrigation water supplies by capturing, treating, and reusing water that would otherwise be discharged or remain impaired. It also tied projects to improvements in system efficiency, increased operational flexibility during droughts or shortages, and diversification of a region's overall water portfolio.

10) Did the opportunity connect reuse projects to energy efficiency or environmental stewardship?

Yes. The announcement linked Title XVI investments to delivering new sources of clean water while promoting water and energy efficiency and supporting environmental responsibilities.

11) What was the estimated total amount of funding available?

The FY 2013 funding details indicated an estimated total of $15,000,000 available.

12) About how many awards were expected to be made?

The opportunity stated an expectation of about 10 awards.

13) What was the anticipated award size (minimum and maximum)?

Individual awards were anticipated to range from a floor of $1,000,000 to a ceiling of $4,000,000.

14) What type of funding instrument was used?

The funding instrument listed for this opportunity was a grant.

15) What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

The opportunity fell under CFDA 15.504 (Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program).

16) Was cost sharing (matching) required?

Yes. The opportunity required cost sharing or matching, meaning federal funds were not intended to cover the full cost of a project and recipients needed to contribute non-federal resources according to the program's requirements.

17) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was limited to sponsors of water reclamation and reuse projects that were explicitly authorized for funding under Title XVI of Public Law 102-575, as amended (43 U.S.C. 390h through 390h-39). The notice made clear that not every reuse project or water agency automatically qualified; the project had to be within the set of Title XVI-authorized projects and the applicant had to be an eligible sponsor under that statutory framework.

18) Does a water agency automatically qualify to apply?

No. The notice indicated that eligibility depended on whether the project was explicitly authorized for funding under Title XVI and whether the applicant was an eligible sponsor under that Title XVI statutory framework.

19) What applicant type was listed in the opportunity?

Eligible applicants were characterized generally as "Others," with the clarification that eligibility was controlled by the Title XVI authorization requirement.

20) What was the activity category for this funding opportunity?

The activity category was listed as natural resources.

21) When was the opportunity posted and created?

The opportunity was posted and created on October 17, 2012.

22) What was the application deadline?

The application deadline (original and current) was December 12, 2012.

23) When was the opportunity archived?

It was archived on December 13, 2012.

24) Who was the grants officer contact listed for applicant support?

The notice provided a grants officer contact: Michelle Maher.

25) How could applicants contact the grants officer, and what was the contact for?

Applicants could contact Michelle Maher by phone at 303-445-2025, particularly if they had trouble accessing the full announcement electronically.