Water bills decrease with district's smart irrigation program

July 29, 2010
RIVERSIDE, CA. July 29, 2010 -- Western Municipal Water District's Smart Yard™ program launched in April has saved 168 participating customers an average of 25 percent off their water bill and saved 1.9 million gallons of water in the first month...

RIVERSIDE, CA. July 29, 2010 -- Western Municipal Water District's Smart Yard™ program launched in April has saved 168 participating customers an average of 25 percent off their water bill and saved 1.9 million gallons of water in the first month. This figure is projected to exceed one billion gallons of water saved over a ten- year period when the program is fully deployed across more than 600 homes in Western's retail service area.

"I chose Smart Yard because it allows me to do the right thing for my wallet and the environment," said, Chris Lawrence, a homeowner in Riverside. He added, "It's a no-compromise way to go green." Mr. Lawrence signed up for the Smart Yard program earlier this month. With a 5 acre lot, it's estimated the program will save him more than $1,700 total over the next 5 years according to the calculator he filled out as part of the program's online sign up process.

Smart Yard technology eliminates over-watering by installing HydroPoint Data Systems Inc. WeatherTRAK irrigation control systems in the homes of Western's residential customers. More than 500 Smart Yard systems have been requested by homeowners to date. With no upfront costs, Smart Yard participants save an average of $1,080 on their water bills over 10 years while they enjoy additional benefits including improved landscape health. Homeowners also receive an exemption from watering restrictions.

Smart Yard, a self-sustaining community water conservation solution, is a significant evolution from past water efficiency programs. Rather than relying on third-party grants or government rebates for funding, Western partners with its customers to fund the water efficiency upgrades. The District instantly rebates 50 percent of Smart Yard product and installation costs; homeowners pay the balance of the program costs with a zero-interest financing fee on their water bills. Customers' typical net savings are nearly double the fee they pay for the service.

Western's Smart Yard program is a viable solution for U.S. water providers, who must secure more reliable water sources as supplies dwindle. In Western's service area, landscapes consume close to 70 percent of the water supply, and are overwatered by anywhere from 30 to300 percent. By encouraging consumers to conserve local landscape water through the Smart Yard program, Western avoids the need to purchase costly imported water from its wholesaler agency. This both controls rapidly escalating water rates for the District and its customers and minimizes demand on the nation's critically stressed water infrastructure.

"Smart Yard sets the standard for our future programs," said Tim Barr, Water Use Efficiency Manager for Western Municipal Water District. Mr. Barr added, "By aligning economic and environmental objectives, we can reliably deliver a cost-effective water supply to our community, even in the face of long-term water shortages."

HydroPoint Data Systems Inc. founded in 2002, is the market and technology leader in Smart Water Management. Headquartered in Petaluma, Calif., HydroPoint is privately owned and operated. For more information, visit www.hydropoint.com.

Western Municipal Water District provides water supply, wastewater disposal and water resource management to the public in a safe, reliable, environmentally sensitive and financially responsible manner. Web: www.wmwd.com

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