A water meter cowl is pictured in Salt Lake Metropolis on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020. Laura Seitz, Deseret Information
It's not too early for Utah water suppliers to hunt avenues for slicing again on outside water consumption.
Actually, the third spherical of funding for secondary water meters opened Monday and continues to Jan. 6.
“That is an thrilling time for water within the state of Utah. The Legislature has prioritized water conservation like by no means earlier than,” Candice Hasenyager, director of the Division of Water Sources, mentioned. “As soon as these meters are put in, they are going to present correct knowledge that might be helpful to water planning and conservation.”
Via the primary two rounds, the state Board of Water Sources licensed over $190 million in the direction of secondary water metering. Techniques which have put in secondary meters have seen a 20%-30% discount in water use just by informing prospects how a lot water they use. These grant funds are for secondary water suppliers, not residents.
State hopes rural water districts apply
The division despatched letters and emails to most of the secondary water suppliers all through the state in an effort to extend the variety of candidates on this spherical.
“Most of the bigger secondary water programs already know in regards to the division’s funding alternatives and have utilized for funding,” Marisa Egbert, the division’s funding part supervisor, mentioned. “We try to achieve out to the smaller secondary programs and rural communities that haven't acquired grant funding but.”
“We respect all of the secondary water suppliers who've taken this chance that can assist the state stretch our water provide,” mentioned Hasenyager. “As we battle drought, measuring and monitoring our water is extraordinarily necessary.”
Based mostly on earlier purposes, the division estimates the grant funds will cowl the prices to buy and set up round 114,000 secondary water meters. The estimated quantity of water anticipated to be conserved is roughly 54,000 acre-feet of water, or about how a lot water is in East Canyon Reservoir.
Roughly $58 million is remaining in grant funds out of the $250 million allotted by the Legislature. Grant funds can cowl as much as 70% of the undertaking prices.
For extra info and to use for funding, click on on the next hyperlink: Secondary Meter Grants.
Final session the state Legislature spent an historic quantity on water saving measures — $500 million — and it'll proceed efforts, given the stress of drought and inhabitants progress.