The Bureau of Reclamation announced that the City of Durant in southern Oklahoma was selected for a $1.5 million grant from the WaterSMART Program to help communities conserve water.
“Existing water and hydropower resources are being strained as our infrastructure ages and population grows. The WaterSMART program provides critical support to western communities, helping to best conserve limited water resources,” said Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt.
Forty-five projects will be funded based on two categories. In the first category, 28 projects from 11 states were selected to share $7.5 million with each project receiving up to $300,000 in federal funding and having a completion timeframe of less than two years. The second category consists of 17 projects from seven states, sharing $21.5 million. These projects are receiving up to $1.5 million in federal funding and will be completed within three years.
“These water and energy efficiency grants help increase hydropower production and contribute to water supply reliability in the western United States,” said Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman. “WaterSMART is an opportunity for communities to use water more effectively and reduce risk for future water conflict.”
The City of Durant will replace 5,999 manual read meters with smart meters and associated advanced metering infrastructure network software. By providing real-time data, the project is expected to result in water savings of 1,003 acre-feet annually that is currently lost to leaks. The project addresses concerns related to the city’s limited water supply from the Blue River and projected population growth.
