Water Desalination Grant Program

The Program provides grants to local agencies for the planning, design, and construction of projects to desalinate naturally occurring brackish and ocean water for potable water supply. It has also provided grants for pilots, demonstrations, and research projects. Grant funding has come from Proposition 50 (2004) and Proposition 1 (2014). As of July 2026, over $123 million in grants ranging from $45,000 to $10,000,000 have been awarded. The Program operates on a Continuous Application Process (CAP), which enables applicants to submit projects at any time when grant funds are available. DWR then reviews applications and awards grants in batches. Proposition 1 and 50 funds have been fully awarded. The Continuous Application Process is currently suspended, and DWR is not accepting applications.