Photo: Congressman Pete Aguilar (center) tours a SBMWD water reservoir site with Water Board President Toni Callicott (right) and SBMWD General Manager Miguel Guerrero (left).
The San Bernardino Municipal Water Department (SBMWD) has been awarded a $5.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The funding was awarded through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant program to enhance local resiliency of water infrastructure with seismic retrofits.
The projects funded by the Hazard Mitigation Grant include four steel reservoirs located throughout the city and are part of the third phase of seismic reservoir upgrades in SBMWD’s system planned for completion by 2025. Additional financial backing for phase three of the reservoir retrofits includes a low-interest loan through California’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) program.
“The funding awarded under the Hazard Mitigation Grant increases the reliability of essential water services for the San Bernardino community.” said Miguel Guerrero, SBMWD General Manager, “The four steel reservoir retrofits funded by this grant reduce potential hazards such as flooding or supply interruption resulting from tank damage or failure and are critical to support firefighting activities during a catastrophic event.”
“Extreme weather events are becoming more prevalent here in the Inland Empire and we must act now to ensure we are prepared,” said U.S. Representative Pete Aguilar at a tour of one of the four reservoir sites. “Ensuring our infrastructure is up-to-date and resilient in the face of floods, earthquakes, wildfires and other natural disasters will help keep residents safe.”
“The Water Department is grateful for the federal and state support these funding opportunities offer.” said Toni Callicott, SBMWD Water Board President. “Projects such as the reservoir upgrades are a direct and long-term investment for the security of our water storage and the safety of the community we serve.”
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program helps states, territories, federally recognized tribes, local communities, and certain private non-profit organizations to reduce future disaster costs and to become more resilient to potential infrastructure damage.
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