Governor Robert Bentley has awarded a $25,000 grant that will help Alabama’s rural water systems find and repair costly water leaks.

The Alabama Rural Water Association will use the funding to continue its program to help rural water systems identify and find leaks in underground water lines. Undetected leaks account for thousands of dollars in lost revenue for water systems each year, a cost that may result in higher rates for the consumer, according to association.

“Water is a precious resource that too often is taken for granted,” Bentley said. “This program saves money, reduces waste and is another measure to ensure that when Alabamians turn on a faucet they will have water.”

The association expects to contact 400 Alabama water systems to review water losses and to conduct leak detection surveys for at least 15 water systems. The association also will train employees from 30 water systems to identify and track water leaks and it will provide water-loss-reduction recommendations for other systems.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funding provided to the State Energy Program from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Bentley notified Kathy Horne, executive director of the association, that the grant had been approved. The association has committed matching funds of $7,500 toward the program.