Funding Opportunities

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Funding Opportunities: Supporting Innovation

Metropolitan’s role in supporting local resource development and water efficiency has been shaped by our commitment to building a diverse and sustainable resource mix to meet demands. We recognize the uncertainties that climate change, environmental conflicts and economic trends can present, which is why our planning strategies support new water supply innovations and ideas. Metropolitan provides incentives to help ease the financial obstacles that accompany building and operating new facilities and programs, partnering with the public and private sector. We also fund regional studies and research to examine ways to improve local project development and the quality and amount of water produced.

Emerging technologies, innovative ideas and social and business trends are all part of our planning portfolio because they are designed to be weather-proof. Whether Southern California is in a drought or a wet period, these tools help and provide long-term supply reliability.

Future Supply Actions Funding Program

As part of Metropolitan’s long-term One Water resource strategy, this funding program promotes new technical advances to better prepare the region to adapt to future water supply uncertainties. Since the program’s initiation, a total of $6.5 million has been awarded to Metropolitan member agencies to help fund more than two dozen technical studies or pilot projects exploring innovative ideas to develop future water supplies in Southern California. Awards have been given to studies in the areas of recycling, groundwater, seawater desalination and stormwater. 

Completed project reports and studies for past round of funding are available below. For a full list of funded projects, click here.

City of Anaheim - Regional Assessment of Stormwater Capture, Treatment, and Infiltration for Groundwater Enhancement

Calleguas Municipal Water District - Los Robles Golf Course Groundwater Utilization Pilot Study

City of Santa Ana - Restoration of Local Recharge Sources from Invasive Dreissenid Mussels

San Diego County Water Authority - Multi-Jurisdictional Optimization of Surface and Groundwater Supplies in the San Dieguito River Watershed

Las Virgenes Municipal Water District - Phase 2 White Paper: Tapping into Available Capacity in Existing Infrastructure to Create Water Supply and Water Quality Solutions

Eastern Municipal Water District - Purified Water Replenishment Brine Concentration Pilot Project

San Diego County Water Authority - Demonstration of Preformed Chloramines for Biofouling Control and California Toxics Rule Compliance

City of Fullerton - Demonstrating Virus Log Removal Credit for Wastewater Treatment and Reverse Osmosis for Potable Reuse at OCWD

Las Virgenes Municipal Water District - Application of Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning to Advanced Water Treatment Facilities for Indirect Potable Reuse 

West Basin Municipal Water District - Development of an Approach for the Evaluation of Brine Diffuser Shear Mortality 

San Diego County Water Authority - Carlsbad Desalination Plant Wedgewire Screen Pilot Study 

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Local Resources Program

The Local Resources Program is the linchpin for Metropolitan’s in-region supply development. The LRP encourages and accelerates projects to recycle water, treat degraded groundwater and desalinate seawater by offering direct incentives based on the amount of water produced. The projects help reduce demand for imported water supplies and increase water supply reliability regionwide. We currently fund a total of 115 projects across Southern California.

Apply here.

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Innovative Conservation Program

We’re always looking for great ideas and ways to do things better. This research-focused grant program, in collaboration with the Southern California Gas Company, allows us to form partnerships with public and private organizations to evaluate the potential and reliability of innovative water-saving devices, technologies and strategies.

The latest round for proposal submissions closed at the end of 2020. Check back for future grant funding opportunities. For questions about the ICP, contact Tina Andry.

View a List of Past Project Awards
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Community Partnering Program

Sprinkled throughout Metropolitan’s huge six-county service area are pockets of learning – conservation demonstration gardens, native garden tour stops, school programs and community workshops all designed to teach about the importance of water.

Their common thread is funding received through Metropolitan’s Community Partnering Program, which provides up to $2,000 in sponsorships to community-based organizations including nonprofits, professional associations, educational institutions and public agencies. Eligible projects include water-related educational outreach programs like community forums, workshops and water festivals, water-themed curriculum and supplies for grades K-12, after-school programs, exhibits, promotional materials and native plant and California Friendly® garden signage.

Applicants who serve our disadvantaged communities – which represent about half of Metropolitan’s service area – are especially encouraged to apply for sponsorships.

Apply here.

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Recycled Water cutting pipes

On-site Retrofit Program

Metropolitan’s On-site Retrofit Program provides financial incentives directly to public or private property owners to convert imported water irrigation or industrial water systems to recycled water service. Incentives of up to $195 per acre-foot for ten years of estimated water use are available, with a cap at the actual retrofit costs. Items eligible for incentives include project design; permitting; construction costs associated with the retrofit of imported to recycled water systems; connection fees and required recycled water signage.

The program is open to public or private property owners with access to recycled water within Metropolitan’s six-county service area. Systems that are already under construction are NOT eligible for funding.

The program works on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications are accepted until funding for this program is exhausted. Once an application is reviewed and approved, applicants receive a notification that includes an estimated incentive amount along with a list of deadlines that must be met to qualify for funding. Incentive payments are made when all invoices and eligible costs are verified and the connection and use of recycled water becomes operational. If a project is disqualified, applicants may re-apply as long as the project is not under construction. 

Metropolitan’s On-site Retrofit Program provides financial incentives directly to public or private property owners to convert imported water irrigation or industrial water systems to recycled water service. Incentives of up to $195 per acre-foot for ten years of estimated water use are available, with a cap at the actual retrofit costs. Items eligible for incentives include project design; permitting; construction costs associated with the retrofit to recycled water systems; connection fees and required recycled water signage.

Click here to apply.

Click here for a program overview.

Click here for program terms and conditions. 

And for questions, contact Jessica Arm.

 

Stormwater LA river

Stormwater Pilot Programs

Metropolitan’s stormwater programs help evaluate the water supply potential of local stormwater capture. The Stormwater for Direct Use Pilot Program and Stormwater for Recharge Pilot Program fund construction of new direct-use stormwater capture projects and stormwater recharge projects as well as the installation of monitoring equipment on existing projects. Information on the costs and volume of water produced by different types of projects collected over three years will inform the possible funding of stormwater capture efforts in the future.

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Direct Use

 

Direct-use projects capture local rainfall and stormwater runoff. The captured water is typically stored in an underground cistern and used to meet non-potable demands. This program is open to commercial, institutional and industrial sites within Metropolitan's service area.

We are no longer accepting applications as this program has ended.

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Recharge

Stormwater recharge projects capture stormwater for groundwater recharge and future production. Examples of recharge projects include centralized spreading basins, dry wells or infiltration galleries. This program is open to public and private (non-residential) locations within our service area.

We are no longer accepting applications as this program has ended.

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Water Savings Incentive Program

The Water Savings Incentive Program is a collaborative effort between Metropolitan, its 26 public member agencies, and large water-using customers to improve water use efficiency. The program offers funding for commercial, industrial, agricultural and large landscape projects that reduce water consumption. Funding is based on how much water projects save; with recipients receiving $0.60 per 1,000 gallons per year for a maximum of 10 years. Metropolitan has funded more than 125 projects through the Water Savings Incentive Program over the past five years.

Projects that qualify include:

  • Installation of commercial or industrial high-efficiency equipment
  • Industrial process improvements
  • Agricultural and landscape water efficiency improvements
  • Water management services

 

Getting Started

Please note that funding for this program is limited and submitting an application does not guarantee the customer will receive payment. Incentives will be reserved for projects on a first-come, first-served basis until funding is exhausted. Please submit applications well in advance of your anticipated project start date to ensure enough time for project review, questions to be answered and approval granted in order to ensure eligibility for funding.

 

Submit Your Application

 

Learn more about the WSIP here. For questions email Socalwater$mart or call (888) 376-3314.

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