The U.S. House approved up to $75.7 million in federal funding authorizations for five San Mateo County water infrastructure projects as part of a bipartisan bill.
The Water Resources Development Act of 2026, or WRDA, passed 415-9 on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Rep. Kevin Mullin, who represents San Mateo County in California's 15th Congressional District, secured the local authorizations. The bill now heads to the Senate, where a companion measure has cleared committee, Agri-Pulse reported, but is not expected to reach the floor until after the November elections.
The $75,655,000 covers projects spanning water recycling, stormwater upgrades, flood protection and bay pollution reduction, according to Mullin's office.
The authorizations are not direct spending. Actual dollars would come later through the federal appropriations process, but authorization is a required first step before Congress can fund construction.
"For our communities along the shore in particular, these long-term infrastructure improvements are crucial to reduce flooding and strengthen resilience for residents, businesses, and critical infrastructure," Mullin said in a Sept. 17 statement.
The five authorized projects are:
- Mid-Peninsula Hills Satellite Water Recycling Facility: OneShoreline, the county's flood and sea-level-rise resiliency district, would partner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to design and build a water recycling facility for irrigating nearby schools and parks.
- Port of Redwood City Storm/Sewage Infrastructure: Upgrades to pumps and pipelines to increase long-term stormwater and sewage capacity.
- O'Connor Pump Station in East Palo Alto: Improved pumping equipment and capacity to reduce flooding risk.
- East Palo Alto Water Supply Improvements: A new water storage facility and upgrades to the city's distribution system.
- Silicon Valley Clean Water: Two components: a new wastewater treatment process to cut pollution entering San Francisco Bay, and an Army Corps feasibility study for a levee to protect wastewater infrastructure in Redwood City.
OneShoreline, established by state legislation in 2019, works across city boundaries on climate resilience. Studies the district cites show sea-level rise threatens more people and property in San Mateo County than in any other California county.
The WRDA package also includes Mullin's Dredging Coordination Improvement Act, a bipartisan bill that would streamline how the Army Corps of Engineers and local port authorities coordinate maintenance dredging. The measure requires more consultation on contracting and greater budget transparency.
No Senate floor vote has been scheduled.
