January 30, 2025 — Rowland Water District (RWD) recently secured more than $31,000 in Member Agency Administered Program (MAAP) grant funding from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) to support outreach programs promoting water conservation and offering incentives to customers in disadvantaged communities (DACs).
The majority of this MAAP funding is being utilized for a two-part program designed to enhance community landscapes with water-wise solutions. All RWD customers are encouraged to participate in a free residential water-use efficiency survey conducted by WaterWise Consulting, Inc., helping them discover ways to improve their landscaping while using less water.
“Through this partnership, we are providing valuable information to our customers while empowering them to make more sustainable choices that benefit the entire community and contribute to a resilient future for us all,” said RWD General Manager Tom Coleman.
Customers in designated DACs will be eligible for up to $650 in incentives for irrigation upgrades. These enhancements include installing high-efficiency sprinkler nozzles, converting to drip irrigation, capping unnecessary sprinkler heads, installing weather-based irrigation controllers, and reprogramming controllers to prioritize retrofitted zones.
In late 2024, RWD obtained an additional $1,800 in flex spending from MWD to promote customer enrollment in paperless billing. Customers who enrolled were rewarded with a free succulent during a community distribution event that followed, reinforcing the importance of drought-friendly landscaping. This initiative reduced paper waste while educating the community on water-wise landscaping practices.
“Our Succulent Distribution Event in November was a success, and we received an overwhelmingly positive response from our community with hundreds of new customer enrollments during the campaign,” said RWD Marketing and Social Media Coordinator Brittnie Gildea. “It’s heartwarming to see our residents come together to embrace sustainability and plant the seeds for a better future.”
The remaining MAAP funding will be used to install conservation-themed light post banners along Colima Road, a high-traffic area in the RWD service area and to place conservation yard signs throughout the community to foster long-term changes in landscaping habits and reduce outdoor water use.
Learn more at rwd.org.