What is OneWater Nevada?
OneWater Nevada is a collaboration among regional agencies working to build a more resilient and sustainable water future. By recognizing the interconnected nature of water resources, the initiative seeks to meet community needs while protecting water quality and the environment.
OneWater Nevada focuses on:
- Conserving and extending existing water supplies
- Planning for long-term water supply and quality
- Protecting the health of regional watersheds
- Developing innovative technologies and practices
The goal is to ensure reliable water supplies for all users while protecting—and where possible improving—water quality and environmental integrity. This includes monitoring water supplies, assessing future demands, and developing strategies to meet those demands sustainably.
A key effort is Nevada’s first Advanced Purified Water Facility, now under construction. When complete, this facility will play an important role in improving water supply efficiency and drought resilience, and will diversify the region’s water supply portfolio.
City of Reno and Truckee Meadows Water Authority
Break Ground on Nevada’s First Advanced Purified Water Facility
Operating under the OneWater Nevada program, the City of Reno and Truckee Meadows Water Authority have begun construction of the Advanced Purified Water Facility (APWF), a landmark project located on Lear Boulevard north of Reno. The official groundbreaking on August 31, 2026, marked an important milestone as construction on Nevada’s first indirect potable reuse facility got underway—advancing a new chapter in the region’s water future.
Construction is anticipated to continue through fall of 2029. An on-site Education Center is part of the facility’s design, offering the public an opportunity to engage with the science and safety behind advanced water purification.
After more than 15 years of research, testing, and planning, the new facility is designed to produce up to two million gallons of purified water per day to replenish groundwater resources for future use. The new advanced water purification facility will:
- Build resiliency into our water supply by replenishing aquifers using and reducing reliance on the Truckee River system
- Help address long-term water challenges related to growth, drought, and weather pattern variability such as snowpack changes and runoff timing
- Protect water quality and availability for tomorrow’s generations, while serving today’s needs
- Support our region’s character, quality of life, and environment
For more details, see the news release here. Click the "News" tab for media coverage of the event.
How the purification process works
For background, status, and more information about this project, click here.