Reclamation Helps Fund 15 California WaterSMART Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects

Fifteen of California’s WaterSMART small-scale water efficiency projects are closer to becoming reality thanks to recent grants from the Bureau of Reclamation. Funding of up to $75,000 has been provided to water districts/agencies and two cities on a 50-percent cost-share basis. Twelve of the fifteen funded projects in California have received the maximum grant of $75,000.

The recent announcement of the newest WaterSMART grants was made by Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman. The 15 California projects are part of Reclamation’s overall announcement that 58 projects had been selected to share in a total grant of $3.7 million in 16 western states for various WaterSMART small-scale water efficiency projects. California is receiving $1,063,741 of the total Reclamation allocation.

The twelve California water districts/agencies/cities and their funded projects Include:

City of Big Bear Lake, Water System Facilities Automation Project Phase II
Reclamation Funding: $75,000                 Total Project Cost: $150,197

City of Orland, Installation of City Park Water Meters
Reclamation Funding: $75,000                 Total Project Cost: $138,558

Durham Irrigation District, Water System Infrastructure Efficiency Project Phase I
Reclamation Funding: $75,000                 Total Project Cost: $156,640

Lindmore Irrigation District (Lindsay), 93.2E Plant Modernization Project
Reclamation Funding: $75,000                 Total Project Cost: $197,000

North Kern Water Storage District (Bakersfield), Automation and Evapotranspiration Measurement Improvement Project
Reclamation Funding: $75,000                 Total Project Cost: $168,342

North San Joaquin Water Conservation District (Lodi), South System Branch Automation Project
Reclamation Funding: $75,000                 Total Project Cost: $155,000

North San Joaquin Water Conservation District (Lodi), South System Master Control Project
Reclamation Funding: $75,000                 Total Project Cost: $153,400

North Yuba Water District (Brownsville), Dobbins Oregon House Canal Improvement Project Phase I
Reclamation Funding: $75,000                 Total Project Cost: $199,994

Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (Watsonville), Real-Time Water Use Data Acquisition for the Coastal Distribution System
Reclamation Funding: $75,000                 Total Project Cost: $169,016

Placer County Water Agency (North Auburn), Installation of Automated Canal Headgates to Increase Operational Efficiency
Reclamation Funding: $75,000                 Total Project Cost: $197,368

South Tahoe Public Utility District, Pressure Reducing Valve Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Improvements Project
Reclamation Funding: $75,000                 Total Project Cost: $304,600

Tahoe City Public Utility District, Timberland Municipal Water Meter Installation Project
Reclamation Funding: $75,000                 Total Project Cost: $199,904

The three other funded WaterSMART small-scale water efficiency projects in California receiving less than the maximum grant amount include:

Bard Water District (Winterhaven), New Gate Installation in the Cocopah Canal
Reclamation Funding: $33,241                 Total Project Cost: $66,482

Eastern Municipal Water District (Perris), Residential Irrigation Efficiency Project
Reclamation Funding: $60,000                 Total Project Cost: $120,000

Rancho California Water District (Temecula), Identifying and Reducing Water Loss through the Establishment of a District Metered Area
Reclamation Funding: $70,500                 Total Project Cost: $156,828

Of the 15 California funded WaterSMART small-scale water efficiency projects the most costly total project is the $304,600 South Tahoe Public Utility District’s (STPUD) Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Improvements Project. The STPUD project is slated to include the installation of status and alarms signals and integration into the existing supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA system. These upgrades will enable real-time monitoring of the PRV station, which will allow STPUD to better control the use of its water and increase water efficiency. A 2014 technical memorandum identifies the district’s priorities for SCADA system improvements and specifically highlights pressure and flow measurement for water system subzones. A 2016 Water System Optimization Plan also identifies PRV replacements and reliability improvements as a high priority.

Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects are part of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Program. The program aims to improve water conservation and reliability, helping water resource managers make sound decisions about water use. Learn more at https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/swep/. For additional information about the other projects, outside of California, that were funded by Reclamation’s total grant of $3.7 million and additional information about California’s funded Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects, go to: https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/swep/docs/2018/2018small-scale-water-efficiency-project-descriptions.pdf.