Media Corner

For Immediate Release
December 21, 2004

Communities Can Ensure Their "Grass" is Always Greener

Carson, CA - In order to promote an excellent funding opportunity to cities within its service area, Central Basin Municipal Water District is pleased to announce a request for proposals from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) for its innovative Synthetic Turf Program.

MWD has budgeted $261,000, funded in part by a grant from the United States Bureau of Reclamation, for the Synthetic Turf Program. Applicants are eligible to receive up to $50,000 to install and maintain synthetic turf and provide a report of their findings.

Synthetic turf is a replacement for natural grass that looks and feels like real grass but requires no watering and little maintenance, saving water and money. It does not need to be mowed and can be cleaned by using a rake or blower to pick up leaves.

MWD hopes to gain reliable data from the participants in this program, with projected water savings of 35-45 acre-feet per year. An acre-foot of water can sustain two families of four for one year. Other valuable information provided by this program will include synthetic turf installation processes, maintenance requirements, urban runoff issues, ancillary benefits to the environment and level of public acceptance.

To be eligible to participate in the Synthetic Turf Program, projects must replace existing irrigated, landscaped areas on municipal and public lands with synthetic turf that are freely accessible to the general public. Replacements of hardscape areas are ineligible. The Synthetic Turf Program excludes residential installations and also excludes all projects and proposals that are currently participating or are under consideration for participation in other MWD programs. Projects must not be existing or under construction prior to agreement execution. Proposals are due to MWD by 3 p.m. on February 11, 2005.

Additional copies of the request for proposal may be downloaded from MWD's website at www.mwdh2o.com. Any questions can be directed to Bill Eubank, Regional Supply Unit, Water Resource Management Group at (213) 217-6489.