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Meter and Telemetry Requirements and Rebate

Meter and Telemetry Installation Required by January 31, 2025

The McMullin Area Groundwater Sustainability Agency (MAGSA) Board of Directors adopted a Groundwater Well Metering, Measurement, Monitoring and Construction Policy in February 2021 and corresponding Implementing Rules & Regulations which required MAGSA landowners with wells producing more than 2 acre-feet of water annually to install meter and telemetry on their wells by January 31, 2025.

Why Meter and Telemetry is Required
The MAGSA Board and staff are working on behalf of landowners to ensure a sustainable groundwater supply for the future of farming operations within MAGSA and meet state requirements outlined by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Every project and program are directly linked to achieving this goal. Accurately measuring groundwater use with meters and telemetry provides the best defense against current estimations of groundwater overdraft in MAGSA. In addition, meters and telemetry are crucial to the supply-side solutions MAGSA is moving forward to bring water into the region including the Aquaterra Water Bank, McMullin Expansion Project, and the future Groundwater Marketing Program.

Penalties for Noncompliance
At MAGSA’s board meeting in February 2025, Board members approved a memorandum outlining enforcement actions for landowners who did not meet the January 31, 2025 installation deadline. Penalties for noncompliance include monthly fees and, eventually, the shutdown of non-compliant wells. Read more here.

Available Financial Assistance
MAGSA has grant funding for a Meter and Telemetry Rebate Program to decrease the cost of installing the meter and telemetry equipment and the monitoring services contract. In addition, we have negotiated a discount for MAGSA landowners with irrigation dealers participating in the Rebate Program. Grant funding is available for rebates on up to 925 wells. The Meter and Telemetry Rebate Program remains available to landowners while funding remains.

Meter and Telemetry Rebate Program: Limited Funding Still Available

MAGSA has secured grant funding to create a Meter and Telemetry Rebate Program providing approximately a 40% rebate for the cost of a landowner’s:
→ Meter
→ Telemetry
→ 1 year subscription for monitoring
→ Installation cost (NOTE: Any extra cost associated with modifying your system to install meter and telemetry, such as the reconfiguration of a discharge pipe involving rerouting or splitting, will not be covered by the rebate.)

Most MAGSA landowners who have registered their wells are eligible for the Meter and Telemetry Rebate Program. However, this Rebate Program is funded through a federal grant, so if you have received funding from another federal program such as EQIP, you may not be eligible for this rebate. Contact MAGSA if you have questions about your eligibility.

To apply for the Rebate Program, follow the steps below:

STEP 1: CONTACT YOUR IRRIGATION DEALER

Contact your irrigation dealer to initiate meter and telemetry installation.
Landowners are responsible for purchasing and installing a meter and telemetry on their well(s). The Policy requires a electromagnetic flow meter (flange or saddle type) capable of communicating with remote telemetry.

MAGSA has negotiated a discount on the costs of a meter and installation with several irrigation companies. These irrigation companies are knowledgeable on the types of meters allowed and installation requirements according to MAGSA’s Policy. It is not required to use one of the providers listed below.

  • AvidWater: (209) 613-8401 Tanner Reisz, treisz@avidwater.com
  • Blacks Irrigation Supply: (559) 665-4891 Matt Black, blacksirrigation@gmail.com
  • Cal West Rain: (559)352-9724 Trever Dykstra, treverd@calwestrain.com
  • Gar Bennett: (559) 997-3188 Kurtis Douglas, kdouglas@garbennett.com
  • Grange Enterprises:  Matt Sani, (559) 289-3138  matt@grangeenterprises.com, Patt Biddy (559) 708-3907 pat@grangeenterprises.com
  • Green Valley Irrigation & Supply: (559) 834-1710 Greg Owens greg@gvirr.com, eric@gvirr.com
  • HP Water Systems: (559) 268-4751 Hollis Priest, hp@hpwatersystems.com, Gabriel Horn, gh@hpwatersystems.com
  • Landmark Irrigation:  (559) 479-2658  Ladislao Diaz, diaz@landmarkirrigation.com
  • Streamline Irrigation: Blake Jacobi (559-909-9244) blake@streamlineag.com, CJ Myers (559-356-3041) cj@streamlineag.com
  • Taylor Made Irrigation: (559) 289-3839 Jason Dees, jason@taylormadeirrigation.com
  • Watson Ag: (559) 864-3551 Trent Watson, trent@watsonag.net, Josh Templeton, josh@watsonag.net

STEP 2: SUBMIT YOUR PAID INVOICE TO MAGSA

Provide MAGSA with a copy of paid meter, telemetry and installation invoice(s) for rebate.

To receive a rebate on the purchase and installation of your meter and telemetry, you must provide MAGSA with a copy of the paid invoices showing the cost to purchase and install the meter and telemetry. There are three ways you can choose to provide MAGSA your paid invoices either:

Mail to: MAGSA, 275 S. Madera Ave. Suite 301, Kerman, CA 93630
Email to: info@mcmullinarea.org (please include in subject line: Meter Invoices)
Drop off at: MAGSA’s office anytime through the mail slot located on the front door.

STEP 3: SIGN TELEMETRY MONITORING CONTRACT

Sign telemetry monitoring contract with SGMA Water Analytics (SWA).

MAGSA’s Policy requires monthly reporting of your well’s groundwater production and the installation of qualifying remote telemetry on each groundwater well. The privacy of landowner’s data is paramount for MAGSA. To ensure the security of the data, MAGSA has contracted with SGMA Water Analytics (SWA). SWA has secure servers that will directly communicate with the MAGSA-approved telemetric system keeping the data tightly managed. The data will be provided back to MAGSA by SWA in an aggregate number of total groundwater pumped for reporting purposes to the State. Individual landowner’s information will not be provided to MAGSA.

To contact SWA directly, visit their website at www.sgmawa.com,  call (206) 339-1258 or email clientservices@sgmawa.com.

STEP 4: RECEIVE MAGSA REBATE

MAGSA was awarded a $2.8 million grant from the Bureau of Reclamation to assist with the landowner’s cost of purchasing and installing a meter, telemetry, and one year of groundwater use monitoring services. Approximately 40 percent of the costs will be covered by the rebate.

Once MAGSA receives the verification forms and copy of paid invoices for all items in the packaged rebate, MAGSA will process the rebate. All steps must be completed to receive the rebate.

Helpful Resources

Meter and Telemetry Rebate Program Overview

June 2024 Landowner Webinar Recording

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

How much will this rebate cover?

The Program provides financial assistance (approximately a 40% rebate) to landowners to complete the meter and telemetry installation requirements. The rebate program also includes a discount on a 1-year subscription for monitoring.

Can I use matching funds from other grant sources in addition to the Meter and Telemetry Rebate Program?

You are not allowed to use matching funds if the source of funding is from another Federal grant.  For example, if you received EQIP grant funding to install meters and telemetry, the landowner cannot also receive funding from the Meter and Telemetry Rebate Program since they are both funded by the Federal government. A landowner can use matching funds if it is from another source funding, such as State or private funding.

Eligibility

Who is eligible for the Meter and Telemetry Rebate?

Landowners who own property within MAGSA’s boundaries and have registered their wells are now eligible for the Meter and Telemetry Rebate Program.

I haven’t registered my well. Can I still qualify for the rebate?

In order to qualify for the rebate, wells are required to be registered with MAGSA. Well registration forms are available at https://www.mcmullinarea.org/wellregistration.

Ownership

Who owns the meter?

The meter is owned by the landowner. Any repairs or replacement equipment are the responsibility of the landowner based on the warranty that is provided by the company that installed the meter.

Who owns the telemetric unit?

The telemetric unit is owned by the landowner. Any repairs or replacement of equipment are the responsibility of the landowner based on the warranty that is provided by the company that supplied or made the telemetric unit.

Meter Specifications and Installation

Do I have to use one of the irrigation companies recommended by MAGSA to install my meter?

It is not required to use one of these providers, but to ensure that you are eligible for the Meter & Telemetry Rebate Program, it is recommended. MAGSA has negotiated a discount on the costs of a meter and installation with several irrigation companies. The companies include:

  • AvidWater: (209) 613-8401 Tanner Reisz, treisz@avidwater.com
  • Blacks Irrigation Supply: (559) 665-4891 Matt Black, blacksirrigation@gmail.com
  • Cal West Rain: (559)352-9724 Trever Dykstra, treverd@calwestrain.com
  • Gar Bennett: (559) 997-3188 Kurtis Douglas, kdouglas@garbennett.com
  • Grange Enterprises:  Matt Sani, (559) 289-3138  matt@grangeenterprises.com, Patt Biddy (559) 708-3907 pat@grangeenterprises.com
  • Green Valley Irrigation & Supply: (559) 834-1710 Greg Owens greg@gvirr.com, eric@gvirr.com
  • HP Water Systems: (559) 268-4751 Hollis Priest, hp@hpwatersystems.com, Gabriel Horn, gh@hpwatersystems.com
  • Landmark Irrigation:  (559) 479-2658  Ladislao Diaz, diaz@landmarkirrigation.com
  • Streamline Irrigation: Blake Jacobi (559-909-9244) blake@streamlineag.com, CJ Myers (559-356-3041) cj@streamlineag.com
  • Taylor Made Irrigation: (559) 289-3839 Jason Dees, jason@taylormadeirrigation.com
  • Watson Ag: (559) 864-3551 Trent Watson, trent@watsonag.net, Josh Templeton, josh@watsonag.net

These irrigation companies are knowledgeable on the types of meters allowed and installation requirements according to MAGSA’s Policy.

What happens if I do not have a meter installed by the January 31, 2025 deadline?

Landowners are expected to meet the obligations and deadlines established by MAGSA’s Policy. Failure to comply will incur a warning that allows not more than thirty (30) days to achieve compliance. Failure to meet the deadline established in the warning will result in MAGSA arranging for or performing the required work or task and the subsequent billing to the landowner for the any costs, charges or fees required to comply.

Are there specifications for the meter and telemetry I purchase to receive the rebate?

Yes. Growers must properly install the meter according to manufacturer specifications and MAGSA’s policy requirements. This means the meter must be the first in line from the discharge at the well and have the correct distance upstream and downstream on the pipe.

For an overview of meter and telemetry requirements, read MAGSA’s policy requirements or download THIS flyer. Examples of meters that meet those requirements include: Seametrics AG 3000 (flange) and AG 90 (saddle) and McCrometer Dura Mag (flange) and Mc Mag 2000 or 3000 (saddle).

If I must make additional modifications to my system when installing meter and telemetry, will the rebate apply to these costs?

If special modifications are needed to the landowner’s distribution system to meet the manufacturer specifications for installation, the cost for these special modifications will be borne by the landowner. The rebate and irrigation company MAGSA discount only apply to the direct installation of the meter. It does not cover any additional work required to properly install the meter.

Invoices

Where do I submit my meter and telemetry installation invoices to get reimbursed?

To receive a rebate on the purchase and installation of your meter and telemetry, you must provide MAGSA with a copy of the paid invoice(s) showing the cost to purchase and install the meter. There are three ways you can choose to provide MAGSA your paid invoice(s) either:

Mail to: MAGSA, 275 S. Madera Ave. Suite 301, Kerman, CA 93630

Email to: info@mcmullinarea.org (please include in subject line: Meter Invoices)

Drop off at: MAGSA’s office anytime through the mail slot located on the front door.

Pumping Data

Can I use a different telemetry provider besides SGMA Water Analytics (SWA) to report my pumping data?

You can use another telemetry provider; however, the data will need to be provided to SWA, which will mean an additional fee from SWA to manage your data. The privacy of landowner’s data is paramount for MAGSA. To ensure the security of the data, MAGSA has contracted with SGMA Water Analytics (SWA). This company has secure servers that will directly communicate with the MAGSA-approved telemetric system keeping the data tightly managed.

How will the data collected from SGMA Water Analytics be used?

MAGSA’s Policy requires monthly reporting of your well’s groundwater production. The data will be collected by MAGSA’s contracted data management company SGMA Water Analytics (SWA). SWA will provide MAGSA an aggregate number of total groundwater pumped within MAGSA’s boundaries for required reporting purposes to the State. MAGSA will not know individual landowner’s information. 

The data can also be used by the landowner to better manage groundwater usage and participate in future groundwater supply programs offered by MAGSA, like on-farm recharge and a groundwater market.

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