Council members urge utilities to apply for new state water‑optimization grants covering meters and telemetry

At a virtual meeting, the chair of the watershed group told attendees that a state water‑optimization grant will open in December and close toward January and encouraged eligible districts to apply for funding to cover meters and telemetry.

"There is up to 75% funding for meters and telemetry," the chair said, adding that the south end of the state had pushed to keep that higher funding level rather than a proposed 50% cut. The chair gave a rough installed cost of "about $4,000 per meter," including telemetry.

Members discussed local applicability. The chair noted that Periwen Valley will need meters and urged attendees to help spread the word to utilities and districts that are required to install meters anyway so they can take advantage of the state funds. No formal vote or action was taken at the meeting to apply for the grant on behalf of any single entity.

The update was presented as an informational briefing; the chair said they would push for the higher 75% funding level in applications and asked members to publicize the opportunity at other meetings. The meeting record did not specify grant program name or exact application deadlines beyond the general timing, nor did it identify a staff person assigned to coordinate applications.

What happens next: members were asked to share the grant details with local utilities and prepare to discuss any coordinated application at the council's first 2026 meeting, currently scheduled for Jan. 16 in Enoch.