Water Agency Receives Grant To Make Farming More Water Efficient

PERRIS, CA — A $210,000 grant awarded to the Perris-based Eastern Municipal Water District will enhance the agency's efforts to make farming more water efficient, the agency announced Tuesday.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation made the funds available under its Agricultural Water Conservation & Efficiency Program.

"Our area has a rich agricultural history, and we want to ensure that we continue working with our local agricultural community and offering them a variety of resources," EMWD President David Slawson said. "By incorporating technology and updated irrigation equipment, our agriculture customers will be able to further increase their water use efficiency for many years to come."

According to the EMWD, more than 10,000 acres within the agency's coverage area are dedicated to farming and related operations.

The grant specifically will be utilized to implement standards based on a joint study involving the EMWD and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which identified how new irrigation equipment can lessen resource waste.

"A vast majority of local farmland uses recycled water for irrigation," according the agency. "EMWD is among the national leaders in recycled water use and continually uses 100 percent of its recycled water supplies each year."

The agency serves 816,000 customers in Hemet, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Perris, San Jacinto, parts of Temecula Valley and Winchester.

— By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock