Water Conservation and Resources staff continue to seek ways to improve end use water efficiency in our service area including smart home water devices for our residents at a discounted cost. Currently around 300 devices are installed as part of our existing program. Application for a water conservation grant from the Arizona Water Infrastructure and Finance Authority (WIFA) will allow for possible expansion of this existing program for an additional 500 devices for residents to facilitate greater water savings overall. The amount requested through the grant is $156,090.

ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2023-2350 AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND FINANCE AUTHORITY (WIFA) CONSERVATION FUNDS TO GOODYEAR WATER SERVICES, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS RELATING TO SAID APPLICATIONS, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A GRANT AGREEMENT (IF GRANT FUNDS ARE AWARDED), AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE THE REQUIRED BUDGET TRANSFER (IF GRANT FUNDS ARE AWARDED).  (Andrew Pirrone, Water Conservation Coordinator)

WIFA requires a 25% match to apply for program or project funding for conservation. Because Goodyear has an established program for smart home water devices, the match amount of $52,030 is already incorporated into the operational budget for water conservation devices and incentives. Therefore, there is not any additional funding requested over and above the existing Water Conservation budget at this time.
 

Requested Grant Amount from WIFA	$156,090
Goodyear Water Conservation 25% match	$52,030
Total Program Cost:	$208,120

The City of Goodyear’s Water Services Department is committed to improving water efficiency for end water users within the service area at the direction of Council and the Water Conservation Committee’s specific recommendations. The city currently offers to its water customers a discounted smart home water and leak detection device. This device specifically has displayed water savings upwards of 14% on average for homes where it is installed. The grant would allow the city the opportunity to expand this program and offer a greater number of smart home water devices than what current funding provides.

This device is easily set up by the resident and staff assistance is available as needed. Because the program framework already exists, there will not be significant impacts to staff operations in growing this program. Conservation staff hopes to expand this program to reach an additional 500 water customers and applying for this grant will facilitate that goal.