The city of idaho falls (city), located in bonneville county, idaho, will install 250 water meters at commercial properties to measure potable water use

The City of Idaho Falls received a $2.5 million Project Grant from the Bureau of Reclamation under the WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow) program (CFDA 15.507) awarded on June 3, 2025. The grant funds the installation of 250 water meters at commercial properties throughout Idaho Falls to measure potable water consumption. This metering infrastructure will enable the city to implement a consumption-based billing structure that incentivizes water efficiency among commercial consumers while facilitating early detection of system leaks. The project is expected to deliver annual water savings of 595 acre-feet, thereby reducing the city's reliance on groundwater pumping.

The project is scheduled for completion by September 30, 2026. The installation of advanced metering infrastructure aligns with WaterSMART's core objectives of promoting water conservation, efficiency improvements, and sustainable water resource management in western states. Upon project completion, the city will benefit from both operational improvements through leak detection capabilities and conservation outcomes through behavioral incentives created by usage-based pricing structures.

Installing meters will allow the city to implement a billing structure that will charge according to use and incentivize consumers to be more water efficient. The installation of meters will also allow for early leak detection within the system. The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 595 acre-feet, which will help reduce groundwater pumping.