January 25, 2002
John Redding
(208) 378-5212

Roza Irrigation District Receives Award

Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner John Keys announced that Roza Irrigation District has been named as a Commissioners Water Conservation Award winner for 2001. The Commissioner’s Water Conservation Award is given to individuals or entities that have demonstrated significant accomplishments in improving water use efficiency.

"Roza Irrigation District has implemented many innovative water conservation technologies that have led to an outstanding water conservation program," said Keys. "Their long-standing water use efficiency efforts are an example that all water user organizations can emulate."

In order to provide its users with a reliable source of water, water conservation has always been a priority to the District. "This District represents the type of proactive force that demonstrates what can be accomplished with partnerships," Keys noted.

As an example of Roza’s conservation efforts, the District recently modernized a manual earthen pump lateral system that was 75 percent efficient. By implementing lateral piping and an innovative magnetic induction speed drive, the lateral now approaches 100 percent efficiency, corresponding to a water savings of up to 700 acre-feet per year. Through this cost-effective and reliable technology, the water users are more flexible and efficient in managing their water.

The Bureau of Reclamation manages, develops, and protects water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. Reclamation serves as the fifth largest electric utility in the 17 Western States and the nation's largest wholesale water supplier.