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RIVERSIDE, CA – Western Municipal Water District (Western Water) has received eight new grants totaling $23.4 million in 2023. Combined with its 2022 awards of $9.4 million, the recent awards bring the total grant award to $32.8 million — the highest in Western Water's history. These grants will help enhance the delivery of safe and reliable water to the Southwest Riverside County region.
“By leveraging grant funding for the benefit of our customers, Western Water has been able to pair exceptional customer service with the delivery of safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services in a fiscally responsible manner,” said Western Water’s board president Mike Gardner. “I’m proud of Western Water’s highly skilled team members who have delivered record-setting grant funding for our agency that will help us deliver these projects more quickly than originally projected.”
Already surpassing last year’s grant funding awards, the six awards received to date include: - Regional Well Installation and Water Quality Treatment Project – Western Water was awarded $5 million in funding from the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) to increase local water supplies for the region, helping reduce reliance on imported water from Northern California.
- Landscape transformation at the March Field Air Museum – $100,000 was awarded to Western Water by USBR to replace 20,000 square feet of turf with native, water-efficient landscaping and irrigation. Once complete, this demonstration garden will inspire the community with ideas, inspiration, and education on drought-tolerant plants and landscaping.
- Purchase and installation of a permanent backup diesel engine-driven self-primed pump – Western Water received nearly $1 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and California’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to purchase and install a permanent backup diesel engine-driven self-primed pump. Additionally, Western Water was awarded more than $1.5 million to purchase a permanent backup generator at Mockingbird Pump Station. These will provide the agency with more resiliency, ensuring that critical facilities remain operational during emergencies.
- Western Water Recycling Facility Project
- the quality of recycled water leaving the treatment plant.
- Interconnection with Rancho California Water District in Murrieta and Interagency Agreement with the City of Murrieta – more than $8 million has been earmarked for completing annexation and new water infrastructure to support the Innovation Zone in the City of Murrieta. A reliable water supply in this area will attract new businesses and jobs to Murrieta, supporting the entire region's economic growth and development.
Projects receiving grant funding in 2022 include:
- $4.7 million from the California Department of Water Resources to fund a project at WWRF that will preserve the ability to recycle the highest quality water using an advanced stage of treatment.
- $4.3 million in grant funding from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation’s Defense Community Infrastructure Program to enhance water delivery to March Air Reserve Base for long-term water resilience.
- $325,000 from DWR for the installation of two water-filling stations. These stations will solely serve local communities that rely on private wells, which are at risk due to drought and climate change.
- $100,000 from USBR to improve internet infrastructure on four of Western Water's Riverside service area's drinking water reservoirs. This project aims to create a reliable and efficient Wide Area Network that can monitor and manage water usage.
For more information about Western Water’s facilities, projects, and customer programs, visit WesternWaterCA.gov. Stay updated on the latest projects, programs, and news by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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Western Municipal Water District (Western Water) is one of the largest public agencies in Riverside County, providing water and wastewater (sewer) services to nearly a million people, both retail and wholesale customers who live, work, and play within 527-square miles in one of California’s most populous regions. Learn more: WesternWaterCA.gov .
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