K-12 teachers in the Murrieta area can apply for up to $1,000 to fund water-related classroom projects, lessons or field trips through a grant program run by Western Water.

The Murrieta-based water district has opened its annual Lois B. Krieger Project Grants for educators in western Riverside County. Applications are due by Friday, Oct. 30, and details are available at the district's grant page.

The grant covers hands-on projects, classroom lessons and field trips tied to water education. Western Water announced the application window on Aug. 18 on its Instagram page, calling on K-12 educators across the region to apply.

The program funds work that helps students understand water use, conservation and the broader role water plays in their communities. Past recipients have used the money for activities ranging from in-class science experiments to off-campus trips.

The Krieger Grant program is not new, and its reach has grown. At its annual Arts & Grants Reception the week of May 15, Western Water honored 38 local educators who received Krieger grants during the prior cycle. The event also recognized nine student artists whose "Water is Life" artwork highlighted water efficiency and four college students who received scholarships through the district's Endowed Scholarship Program.

One example of how the grant works in practice: In October 2025, Western Water surprised Mrs. Palagi, a local teacher, with a $1,000 Krieger Grant to help her students attend science camp, according to the district's Instagram post. The delivery, recorded on video by the district, showed staff arriving at her classroom with the award.

Eligible applicants are K-12 educators who teach within Western Water's service area in western Riverside County, which includes Murrieta. The district has not published detailed eligibility criteria or application requirements on its public website beyond the basic parameters.

With 38 grants awarded in the most recent cycle, the program represents one of the more accessible funding sources for local teachers looking to bring water science into their classrooms. Educators can find the application at WesternWaterCA.gov/KriegerGrant.