Funding Support

The San Diego Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Program supports regional water planning and implementation guided by the San Diego IRWM Plan. The program secures and administers grant funding to achieve regional water management goals.  

Grant funding is provided through: 

• Proposition 50 (2002)
• Proposition 84 (2006)
• Proposition 1 (2014)
• Budget Act of 2021

The Water Authority administers IRWM grant funds on behalf of the Regional Water Management Group (RWMG), which comprises the Water Authority, the City of San Diego and the County of San Diego. The RWMG is advised by a 32-member committee representing public, non-profit and tribal stakeholders.  

To date, $132.8 million in IRWM grant funding has been awarded to 84 water-related projects, implemented by public agency, tribal and non-profit sponsors. 

With the passage of Proposition 4 in November 2024, an additional $100 million will be allocated statewide to integrated water management and expected to be released over multiple fiscal years. The first funding solicitation is anticipated within the next two years. The program will continue administering regional projects and remains committed to pursuing new funding opportunities that support multi-benefit projects enhancing water resilience across the region. 

Local Resources Program

Administered by the Water Authority and funded by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, this program underwrites local recycled water, groundwater recovery, and seawater desalination projects during the initial years of operation. The program provides incentives of up to $475 per acre-foot for qualified projects.