Water Meters Subsidy Fund
Post Office Box 990
Corte Madera, California 94976

Water District:

As you may already be aware, lead is a toxic metal with no known health benefit to humans. The State of California has declared lead to be a reproductive toxin, requiring its elimination from sources of drinking water and warnings. Lead accumulates in the human body over a lifetime, but the risk to small children is of major concern because they are more susceptible to lead toxicity. High levels of lead can affect every part of the body, including the nervous system, kidneys, liver, the process by which blood is formed, and the reproductive, cardiovascular, immune and gastrointestinal systems. There is no known safe level for lead in the body. Consequently, due to federal and state legislation, the trend in potable water systems is toward unleaded components.

In the interest of providing a water supply to California’s residents that is free from lead contamination, the California Water Meters Subsidy Fund is pleased to offer you a subsidy to purchase non-lead meters from ABB Water Meters, Inc., Hersey Meters, Inc. or Master Meter, Inc. This subsidy is for residential water meters is sized 3/4" or smaller. The subsidy amounts are as follows:

3/4" meters - $9.00 per meter

5/8" meters - $6.50 per meter

Each water district may seek up to $35,000 in subsidy money per year. Requests will be processed in the order they are received, until the Fund is entirely depleted for the year. The total amount of the Fund is $350,000 per year. If, at the end of the year, any money remains in the Fund, any water district that has already received its $35,000 allotment may apply for the excess, to cover additional water meter purchases that have occurred that year, on a first come, first served basis.

The enclosed form must be used when requesting a subsidy under this program, along with a purchase order that includes the quantity of meters purchased, their sizes, and their prices. Subsidies are available for qualifying purchases made at any time after May 31, 2000.

It is strongly recommended that, before you finalize a contract, you check on the availability of subsidy moneys in the Fund. When you are ready to approve a contract, you may request the Fund place a three day hold on the subsidy amount to which you would be entitled. All requests to hold moneys must be made in writing, and can be faxed to Water Meters Subsidy Fund (415) 461-0412.

If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact either Kristina S. Ford (415) 461-0410 or April M. Strauss (415) 217-3800.

Subsidy Distribution Center

p.s. Plastic meters are non-lead and have been available since 1972 to meet the object of lowering levels of lead in the water distribution system. However, plastic meter purchases do not qualify for a subsidy under this program.