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An Advanced Metering Infrastructure program at Moulton Niguel Water District (MNWD) has received a second grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the program with the recent award of $300,000 in federal matching funds. MNWD was one of 54 projects throughout the United States to receive the most recent funding from the federal government’s water and energy efficiency grant program. Between the two Reclamation grants MNWD has received more than half a million dollars in federal funding for its advanced metering infrastructure program.
When announcing the $26.5 million comprising the recent 54 water efficiency grants Reclamation’s Commissioner Brenda Burman said, “The projects we’ve selected today will help communities throughout the Western United States by providing them with tools they can use to better manage their water needs.”
Moulton Niguel’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure program will install nearly 4,900 residential, commercial, and fire protection sites in its service area as well as the radio transmitters to support the program. The advanced metering infrastructure upgrade is expected to conserve 505 acre-feet of water (165 million gallons) annually.
In addition to conserving water, the new automatic meters will eliminate the need and expense of in-person meter reading thereby savings the district and its customers money. The automated meters will also help the district detect water leaks, improve operations and allow customers to monitor their own water usage.
Moulton Niguel Board President Donald R. Froelich thanked Representative Mimi Walters (R-45th District-Irvine) for her help to secure the $300,000 federal matching grant saying, “Congresswoman Mimi Walters supported our application every step of the way and has been a fierce advocate for our customers. We’re grateful for her leadership and her staff’s assistance.”
Long-time Moulton Niguel Water District Director Larry Lizotte expressed his appreciation for the grant funding saying, “We’re grateful to the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation for investing in the future of Orange County’s water infrastructure. Our advanced metering infrastructure program helps our agency detect leaks at the earliest possible moment – saving our customers water and money.”
Director Lizotte, who has served on the Moulton Niguel Board of Directors for nearly half a century, will retire later this year.
