The Bureau of Reclamation has announced a $7 million investment for 82 small-scale water efficiency projects across the West.

The grants will support local community projects, including measuring water flow, automating water delivery, or lining canals. The funding is part of the WaterSMART program, which supports states, Tribes, and local entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply through investments to modernize existing infrastructure and avoid potential water conflicts.

“Community-driven projects are at the heart of WaterSMART, and small investments can go a long way to support water supply and reliability,” says Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “These water efficiency improvements are small, but when combined throughout the West, the projects play an important role in communities becoming more resilient to drought.”