Agricultural News
Gov. Fallin Announces Drought Grants Available for Water Efficiency
Thu, 11 Sep 2014 11:16:31 CDT
Governor Mary Fallin today announced the state of Oklahoma has $1.5 million available in drought grants for cities, counties, water districts and other public entities to help fund projects that highlight responsible use of water.
"Responsible use of water remains the most immediate and effective way to prevent future water shortages for many communities and water systems in Oklahoma," said Fallin. "As the state enters its fourth year of ongoing drought, water efficiency and the reuse of water are becoming increasingly important to protect the water supplies that communities currently use."
To receive funding from the Water for 2060 Drought Grant Program this fiscal year, the applicant and the project must both be eligible. Eligible entities include counties, towns and municipalities, public works authorities and rural water/sewer districts.
Grants are capped at $500,000. The deadline for application is November 26, 2014.
Projects to be considered for a grant must demonstrate water efficiency and support drought resiliency within the community or water/wastewater system. Water efficiency is defined as the use of improved technologies and practices to deliver equal or better services with less water. Water efficiency encompasses responsible water use and water reuse efforts, as well as water loss reduction and prevention to protect water resources for the future.
Eligible categories of water efficiency projects include:
-- Installing or retrofitting water efficient devices in public buildings, such as plumbing fixtures and appliances.
-- Installing any type of water meter in previously unmetered areas.
-- Leak detection and associated replacement of leaks within the distribution system.
-- Replacing existing broken/malfunctioning water meters, or upgrading existing meters, with automatic meter reading systems.
-- Retrofitting/adding automatic meter reading capabilities or leak detection equipment to existing meters.
-- Water audit and water conservation plans, which are reasonably expected to result in a capital project.
-- Recycling and water reuse projects that replace potable sources with non-potable sources, including gray water, condensate and wastewater effluent reuse systems (where local codes allow the practice) and extra treatment costs and distribution pipes associated with water reuse.
-- Retrofitting or replacing existing public landscape irrigation systems with more efficient landscape irrigation systems, including moisture and rain-sensing equipment.
-- Retrofitting or replacing existing public irrigation systems with more efficient irrigation systems.
With passage of the Water for 2060 Act in 2012, Oklahoma became the first state to establish a statewide goal of consuming no more fresh water in 2060 than is consumed today. Appointees to the Water for 2060 Advisory Council are studying a wide range of innovative conservation measures, incentives, and related project financing options to solidify Oklahoma's water future.
"Governor Fallin has shown unwavering leadership when it comes to stewardship of Oklahoma's invaluable water resources," said J. D. Strong, executive director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. "From signing the Water for 2060 Act into law to helping us provide this opportunity to encourage more widespread adoption of water efficiency measures, it helps our water conservation campaign immensely to have the state's chief executive onboard."
Click here for more information, go to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board website or contact Jerri Hargis, the Water Board's grants and operations manager at (405) 530-8800 or jerri.hargis@owrb.ok.gov
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