West Basin Municipal Water District awarded $800,625 DWR Water-Energy grant

Two of West Basin Municipal Water District’s conservation programs will share a $800,625 Department of Water Resources (DWR) Water-Energy grant starting this summer. The funds will be used to further the existing Cash 4 Kitchens (C4K) Program as they implement new services for institutional facilities and for the district’s new Disadvantaged Community Water-Energy Savings Initiative Program (DAC) for West Basin’s residents.

DWR’s Water-Energy Grant Program is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that uses cap-and-trade funds to strengthen the economy, improve public health and the environment as well as by reducing greenhouse gas emissions—particularly in disadvantaged communities. The e program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. At least 35 percent of these program’s investments are made in disadvantaged and low-income communities.

West Basin will advertise the new C4K opportunities for businesses and inform its residents of the DAC program by utilizing a third-party vendor and making the information available in multiple languages. Eligibility for the program is based on areas identified as disadvantaged communities by the State of California. These areas are identified as earning less than 80% of the statewide median household income.

West Basin’s current C4K program provides water use assessments to assist with water-savings efforts at restaurants and other food service facilities. The assessments provide food service managers assistance in training their employees on water usage and conservation tactics. Educational materials, rebate information and low-flow devices including faucet aerators are available through the program.

The expansion of the district’s C4K program will include assessments of kitchen devices and appliances at 225 institutional facilities, such as schools, community centers and hospitals. Additional water and energy savings will include replacing older devices by installing new high-efficiency pre-rinse spray valves, faucet flow restrictors, and air-cooled ice machines. The new C4K program will receive $294,125 from DWR’s grant program toward a total program cost of $641,047.

West Basin’s new DAC program will target water and energy reduction in disadvantaged communities. The program will provide rebate information, educational material and customer assistance as well as the installation of water and energy efficient devices, such as frontloading washing machines, for residents living in West Basin’s DAC service area. DWR granted the DAC program $506,500 of the program’s total cost of $641,047.

In addition to the expanded C4K and DAC programs, the West Basin Municipal Water District is developing a Long-Term Water Efficiency Strategic Plan to realize long-term water conservation. By identifying current needs and goals the plan will focus on developing partnerships, assisting local water retailers and cities and developing cost-effective programs.