Walnut Valley Water District Recognized As “Best in Class” by the Alliance for Water Efficiency by Walnut Valley Water District Jul 23, 2026 Member Submitted News WALNUT — Walnut Valley Water District (WVWD) is proud to announce its recognition as a contributing utility in the Alliance for Water Efficiency’s newly released guidebook, Best in Class: Smart Practices for Residential Landscape and Irrigation Programs. The national guidebook highlights exemplary programs from water utilities across North America that are advancing outdoor water efficiency through innovative, equitable, and data‑driven approaches. WVWD is featured for its Exterior Retrofit Irrigation Program (E-RIP), a pilot initiative designed to improve residential irrigation efficiency through targeted outreach, direct installations, and minor system repairs. A Data‑Driven Approach to Water Efficiency WVWD launched the Exterior Retrofit Irrigation Program in 2020 to select high outdoor water users. Following the retrofits, the pilot group successfully achieved a reduction in overall water use. Building on this success, the District applied lessons learned to refine and strengthen the program, which helped secure additional funding and expand participation to serve more customers. In 2023, with support from a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART Grant and partnerships with Eagle Aerial Solutions and EcoTech Services, Inc., WVWD applied water‑use analytics and mapping tools to more effectively target high outdoor water users. By leveraging consumption reporting data and Waterview mapping, the District identified opportunities to focus on properties where irrigation retrofits would be most practical, cost‑effective, and likely to result in completed repairs and measurable savings. This strategic pivot highlighted in the Best in Class guidebook serves as a model for adaptive program design allowing the District to better align resources with on‑the‑ground results, demonstrating the value of program evaluation and course correction in water use efficiency programming. “Our inclusion in this guidebook reflects WVWD’s commitment to innovation and continuous improvement,” said Jared Macias, Interim General Manager. “We are proud to share our experience, and lessons learned, with other utilities working to design effective outdoor water efficiency programs.” The Guidebook, developed by the Alliance for Water Efficiency with input from 27 utilities and organizations, is intended to serve as a practical resource for water professionals at all stages of program development from planning and implementation to evaluation and refinement. WVWD’s case example underscores the importance of using customer data to guide decision‑making, and adapting strategies to maximize participation and outcomes, principles that align with the District’s broader commitment to sustainable water management. For more information, visit www.walnutvalleywater.gov.
