Helping secure millions for sustainable drinking water solutions with an innovative funding strategy

Pure Water Antelope Valley - Funding Strategy

Like many desert-adjacent communities, the Palmdale Water District (PWD) is working to secure reliable water supplies through reuse of wastewater. They established the Pure Water Antelope Valley (Pure Water AV) program to purify tertiary treated wastewater to state and federal drinking water standards, supplementing PWD’s existing supplies for their 125,000 customers. PWD selected our team to assist with program implementation.

As part of our program management support service, our funding and engineering teams put together a phased funding strategy for the program that aligns with Pure Water AV’s delivery timeline. Since 2022, we have supported PWD by advising on grant opportunities, submitting six grant applications, securing disadvantaged status from the California State Water Board, and working with PWD’s engineering team to integrate federal compliance requirements into design and bid documents. We are also tracking funding-related legislation and policy shifts at the federal and state levels, including California’s climate bond.

To date, PWD has been awarded more than $40 million in grants and secured low-interest loan financing through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) for priority capital improvement program projects. These included Pure Water AV, a new well, and the Palmdale Ditch Conversion project, demonstrating PWD commitment to saving ratepayers millions of dollars while building a sustainable water future for their community.