Funding Your Instrumentation Upgrade

Instrumentation and metering upgrades are eligible costs under most federal and state water infrastructure funding programs. Flow meters, water quality analyzers, SCADA systems, level sensors, and data logging equipment can all be included as line items in funded capital projects — yet many utilities leave this opportunity on the table by scoping instrumentation as an afterthought.

Proper instrumentation is often a prerequisite for demonstrating the compliance outcomes required by grant and loan terms. Funding agencies want to see measurable results — reduced pollutant discharge, improved water loss accountability, energy savings — and accurate measurement data is how those outcomes are documented. Including instrumentation in your funded project scope ensures you have the tools to prove your investment delivered results.

How COSTARS Simplifies Funded Projects

Using Emergent Energy's COSTARS contract (PA #SU-205) as the procurement vehicle satisfies competitive procurement requirements for most SRF and IIJA-funded projects. This eliminates the need for a separate RFP process, reducing project timelines by weeks or months.

COSTARS is a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania cooperative purchasing program that pre-qualifies vendors through a competitive process. State and local government entities — including municipal authorities, school districts, and public agencies — can issue purchase orders directly under the contract, demonstrating procurement compliance without additional bid solicitations.

As an NMSDC-certified MBE, Emergent Energy also helps utilities satisfy minority and disadvantaged business enterprise participation goals that are commonly required for federally funded infrastructure projects.