The Small Suppliers Water Conservation Assistance Program
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The Small Suppliers Water Conservation Assistance Program is designed to help small water suppliers and communities overcome the challenges of acquiring funding and implementing drought and conservation programs by providing direct technical, managerial, financial, and demand management implementation assistance.
Unprecedented climate extremes including hotter and drier periods can be challenging for all communities, but especially those with small water systems or communities that have been historically underserved. To ensure these communities are prepared for future dry conditions, DWR is engaging small water suppliers and Tribal communities to:
- Identify program participants
- Identify specific services to provide to small water suppliers
- Build awareness of assistance being offered to customers
Direct Install Services
DWR has partnered with two service contractors – CalMutuals and GHD – to assist with the program. This includes working with suppliers to increase awareness and interest in the following direct install services:
- Customer metering (among suppliers without 100 percent customers metered)
- Indoor water efficient fixtures (toilets and showerheads)
- Leak detection services
- Flow meters and groundwater level monitors for drinking water production wells
- Special studies (abridged water shortage contingency plans, rate studies, and leak detection studies)
DWR has evaluated water shortage vulnerabilities for small suppliers throughout the state. Using that assessment, DWR identified some of the most water and drought-vulnerable small water suppliers (defined as those that serve 15 to 2,999 connections) to participate and ensure the program reaches communities most in need.
DWR will work with participating suppliers to identify assistance needed in their service area, outlining a budget and implementation schedule. A local agency funding match is not required to be eligible for this small water supplier conservation funding program.
NOTE: This program does not have an application process, and selected small water suppliers will be contacted by a program representative.
The Budget Act of 2021, as amended by Assembly Bill 180 (Ting, 2021), provides funding to DWR for small water supplier conservation (Section 25, Item 3860-101-3398 Conservation for Small Suppliers).
More information can be found on the following service providers websites:
- Technical assistance provided by GHD
- Technical assistance provided by California Association of Mutual Water Companies
- You can also check out the program’s progress with DWR’s Small Water Supplier Conservation Program Dashboard (Coming Soon)
Contact Us
For questions and more information, please select the button below to email WUE.