Boulder Creek, CA – The San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) has announced a significant step towards enhancing water conservation in the region with the receipt of a $100,000 grant aimed at updating water meters in Ben Lomond.

Funded by the Federal Bureau of Reclamation, this grant will facilitate the replacement of 443 aging water meters. The new Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters are expected to assist customers in detecting water leaks more rapidly, leading to cost savings and a reduction in water waste. SLVWD is among 36 projects nationwide to receive funding through this initiative.

Starting in July 2025, the District will begin the process of replacing outdated meters in Ben Lomond, an area characterized by larger parcel sizes and challenging detection conditions due to sandy soil. Since 2016, SLVWD has been engaged in the upgrade of its water meters to AMI technology, but progress was hampered by the devastating CZU Fire in 2020, which severely impacted the District’s water infrastructure. To date, nearly half of the District’s 7,960 water meters have been converted to AMI meters, which offer remote data collection through cellular technology, ensuring timely and accurate water usage information.

The water meter upgrade project is part of a broader initiative within the San Lorenzo Valley Water District aimed at modernizing aging infrastructure. This includes replacing undersized pipelines, enhancing resilience against wildfires, and improving water supply capabilities by adding fire hydrants. The ongoing improvements are designed to ensure a more reliable water system for the community while bolstering firefighting resources in the face of increasing climate challenges.