The Irrigation Association has named North Fort Bend Water Authority, Texas, as the Smart Water Application Technologies 2025 Outstanding Public Engagement Award recipient.
This award recognizes a water provider with a successful program focused on engaging and educating the public on smart, efficient irrigation technologies and practices. By shining the spotlight on outstanding water providers and their innovative projects, the Irrigation Association is working to raise awareness among water customers of the value and impact our industry—and this type of engagement—can have on our communities.
North Fort Bend Water Authority is being recognized for its Water Provider Conservation Program, launched in 2022 to reduce land subsidence and promote outdoor water efficiency across northern Fort Bend County. The program engages local leadership, delivers community outreach and provides high-use notifications, while offering incentives of $0.10 per 1,000 gallons for participating water utility retailers. It combines required initiatives with customizable options such as rebates, smart meter portals, irrigation evaluations and ET-based scheduling. Education is central, with free audits, technology rebates and resources that help residents and utilities adopt smart irrigation practices and improve long-term water management.
“The Irrigation Association is proud to honor North Fort Bend Water Authority with the 2025 Outstanding Public Engagement Award,” said IA CEO Natasha Rankin. “Their Water Provider Conservation Program shows what’s possible when water providers lead with both innovation and collaboration. By engaging utilities, local leaders and residents around smart irrigation practices – from audits and rebates to smart meter engagement and data-driven scheduling – the North Fort Bend Water Authority is delivering real water savings today while cultivating a culture of long-term stewardship across the community.”
Since its launch, the program has credited over $2.3 million to participating water utility retailers, including $972,596 in 2022 and $1.4 million in 2023, with 38 participants from 2024 on track for incentives. A statistical model shows savings of about 296 gallons per day per connection during peak periods, benefiting an estimated 373,000 residents across 141 square miles and 112 retail utilities.
