What Happened?
The Central Arizona Project, Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California are partnering with the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation to design water-saving devices and technologies.
So What?
The municipal water agencies will compete to create the most innovative devices using grants from the federal government. The competition will focus on landscape irrigation, commercial water use and industrial water-saving strategies. The Bureau of Reclamation is offering $450,000 in federal grants through the Innovative Conservation Program to spur competitive brainstorming on how technology can reduce water waste. The bureau will then award up to $50,000 to each project selected as a possible solution to the growing resource problem.
Why The Need?
Across the country, but with specific focus on western states, dry conditions and persistent drought have created fresh water shortages in many communities. In Southern California, for example, more than 50 percent of water used for irrigation, commercial, institutional and industrial use is imported from other regions and supplies continue to dwindle.
In Central Arizona and Nevada, local communities are focusing on water conservation strategies as well in light of the 12-year drought the Colorado River has experienced, which in turn is draining Lake Powell and Lake Mead of their supply. The Bureau of Reclamation released a supply and demand study of the Colorado River in 2012 that suggests dry conditions will persist and more than 30 million people will be impacted by low water supply. Therefore, municipalities are working together on the Innovative Conservation Program to identify best practices for water preservation through technology.
All the ideas submitted will evaluated by a panel of experts based on:
- Water and energy-saving potential
- Research to back up claims
- Potential market impact figures
- Cost effectiveness
- Adherence to the mission of the Innovative Conservation Program
- Project preparedness in the short and long term
Other Water-Based Opportunities
Through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Reclamation, there are a variety of WaterSMART Grants available to help local governments fund energy efficient initiatives. Cost-shared funding for municipalities is provided through the bureau via:
- Water and Energy Efficiency Grants: Awarded to projects aiming to save water, increase efficiency, protect endangered species and address environmental concerns
- System Optimization Review Grants: Given to projects working to improve system-wide efficiency issues such as water deliver, water district operations and water basin functionality.
- Advanced Water Treatment and Pilot and Demonstration Projects Grants: Distributed to projects that combat technical, economic and environmental consequences of low water supplies or quality
- Grants To Develop Climate Analysis Tools: Given to projects that work to narrow information gaps across the country so communities and decision makers are aware of water conservation programs and successes, and options for implementation
This year alone, the bureau has awarded 44 projects in 11 states with grants totaling $20.8 million to increase water-efficient strategies, technology and information.
Getting In On The Grants
Gov1 has monitored how municipalities are taking advantage of available federal grants to transform their communities and address pressing concerns.