Pre-proposal Solicitation for Desalination and Water Purification Research and Development (DWPR)

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), is currently requesting pre-proposals sponsored by the Desalination and Water Purification Research and Development Program (DWPR). Through this program, Reclamation is forming partnerships with private industry, universities, water utilities, and others to address a broad range of desalting and water purification needs. The intent of the program is to augment the supply of usable water in the United States. This will be accomplished by reducing the costs, improving operation and reliability, and developing innovations in desalination and water purification technologies. The Water Desalination Act of 1996, and the current Continuing Resolution, are the authorizing legislation for this program. The Act defines the following important terms: (1) Desalination or desalting means “the use of any process or technique for the removal and, when feasible, adaptation to beneficial use, of organic and inorganic … compounds from saline or biologically impaired waters, by itself or in conjunction with other processes” and (2) Saline water means “sea water, brackish water, and other mineralized or chemically impaired water.”