In an effort to help restaurants and food service facilities save water during this time of serious drought, West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) is expanding the Cash for Kitchens Program, one of its many free water conservation programs for businesses in its service area.

This free program is available throughout Culver City, Malibu, West Hollywood, some unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County and South Bay cities.

The Cash for Kitchens Program provides tools to reduce overhead costs, such as free water efficiency devices, educational materials, and information about available rebates that will help employees become more water efficient.

This program will also help develop behavioral changes that will lead toward a water-efficient kitchen and lifestyle. West Basin hopes to create long-lasting adjustments that kitchen staff and management can incorporate into their day-to-day operations.

"During this historic drought, many restaurants are doing their part to conserve water,” stated West Basin’s Board of Director Scott Houston, who represents Division IV. “This free program will provide tools and resources to additional restaurants in our service area to help us achieve greater savings."

The Cash for Kitchens program was initially established in 2009, in partnership with the South Bay Environmental Services Center to serve the South Bay cities within West Basin’s service area. Many restaurants throughout the South Bay have already participated in this free program. With the overwhelming success of the program, West Basin has hired Hastings & Co. Inc. to expand the program to more cities and restaurants in West Basin’s service area.

Restaurants and food facilities can participate by contacting West Basin’s vendor, Hastings & Co. Inc., at (714) 296-2740.

For more information about Cash for Kitchens and other West Basin programs, visit http://www.westbasin.org.

West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) is a wholesale water agency that provides imported drinking water to nearly one million people in 17 cities and unincorporated areas in Los Angeles County. West Basin is an industry leader in water recycling, conservation, and water education. West Basin is currently implementing a Water Reliability program to reduce the agency’s dependence on imported water and develop drought-proof local water supplies. The program includes water recycling, water conservation, groundwater desalting and ocean water desalination. Visit http://www.westbasin.org to learn more.