Western Municipal Water District’s Smart Yard™ Program Sets New Performance Standard for Water Efficiency Programs

RIVERSIDE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HydroPoint Data Systems, Inc. announced today that the Western Municipal Water District Smart Yard™ program is breaking records for water efficiency programs. The program, which launched in April 2010, has saved customers and the District 1.9 million gallons in the first month of use. This figure is projected to exceed one billion gallons of water saved over a ten-year period when the program is fully deployed across more than 600 homes in Western’s retail service area.

“It’s a no-compromise way to go green”

The Smart Yard program eliminates landscape over-watering by installing HydroPoint’s WeatherTRAK Smart Water Management systems in the yards of Western’s residential customers. More than 500 Smart Yard systems have been requested by homeowners to date, and the pace of adoption is quickening. Homeowners’ enthusiastic reception is attributable to the immediate value they receive. With no upfront costs, Smart Yard participants save an average of $1,080 on their water bills over 10 years while they enjoy additional benefits including improved landscape health. Homeowners also receive an exemption from watering restrictions.

Smart Yard, a self-sustaining community water conservation solution, is a significant evolution from past water efficiency programs. Rather than relying on third-party grants or government rebates for funding, Western partners with its customers to fund the water efficiency upgrades. The District instantly rebates 50 percent of Smart Yard product and installation costs; homeowners pay the balance of the program costs with a zero-interest financing fee on their water bills. Customers’ typical net savings are nearly double the fee they pay for the service.

“Smart Yard sets the standard for our future programs,” said Tim Barr, Water Use Efficiency Manager for Western Municipal Water District. Mr. Barr added, “By aligning economic and environmental objectives, we can reliably deliver a cost-effective water supply to our community, even in the face of long-term water shortages.”

“I chose Smart Yard because it allows me to do the right thing for my wallet and the environment,” said, Chris Lawrence, a homeowner in Riverside. “It’s a no-compromise way to go green,” Mr. Lawrence continued.

Western’s Smart Yard program presents a viable way forward for U.S. water providers, which must secure more reliable water sources as supplies dwindle. In Western’s service area, landscapes consume close to 70 percent of the water supply, and are overwatered by anywhere from 30-to-300 percent. By encouraging consumers to conserve local landscape water through the Smart Yard program, Western avoids the need to purchase costly imported water from its wholesaler agency. This both controls rapidly escalating water rates for the District and its customers and minimizes demand on the nation’s critically stressed water infrastructure.

The Smart Yard program will be highlighted at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference, held October 6-8, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. To learn more, contact HydroPoint Vice President Ben Slick at [phone] or [e-mail].

About HydroPoint Data Systems, Inc.

HydroPoint, founded in 2002, is the market and technology leader in Smart Water Management. The company's WeatherTRAK solution uniquely delivers a multitude of financial and environmental benefits by revolutionizing management of the area of greatest waste in urban water use: landscape irrigation. Proven in 23 independent studies, including the vanguard pollution runoff study led by the EPA, the WeatherTRAK solution saves water, reduces energy demand and protects water quality while it minimizes liability and expense exposure. In 2009 alone, WeatherTRAK subscribers including The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO), Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), Regency Centers (NYSE: REG) and numerous public institutions collectively saved 11.4 billion gallons of water, 45 million kWh and 60 million pounds of CO2. Facing water rates ranging from $2 to $6 per 1,000 gallons and related expenses due to overwatering damages ranging from $500 to $10,000 per site, companies across the U.S. have identified WeatherTRAK as the green initiative with the fastest payback. Headquartered in Petaluma, Calif., HydroPoint is privately owned and operated. For more information, visit www.hydropoint.com.

About Western Municipal Water District

Western Municipal Water District provides water supply, wastewater disposal and water resource management to the public in a safe, reliable, environmentally sensitive and financially responsible manner. For more information, visit wmwd.com.

Smart Yard and WeatherTRAK are trademarks of HydroPoint Data Systems, Inc. All other marks used are the property of their respective owners.