Metropolitan Council

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Metropolitan Area Water Supply Advisory Committee
Water Conservation Presented by Sara Bertelsen,
Metropolitan Council
March 1, 2007
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What is water conservation?

• Any beneficial reduction in water loss, waste or
  use
• Improved management practices that reduce or
  enhance the beneficial use of water

Source Vickers, Amy (2001). Handbook of Water
Use and Conservation.
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Drivers of water conservation

• Water availability
• Climate
• Growth/development
• Environmental protection
• Economics

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Benefits of Water Conservation

• Augments existing water system supplies
• Reduces energy demand
• Reduces consumer water bills
• Reduces capital costs
• Protects ecosystems
• Defers wastewater treatment expansion costs

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Federal Regulations and Programs

• Federal Safe Drinking Water Act
• Federal Energy Policy Act
• WaterSenseSM

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California Urban Water Conservation Council

• 384 members
• 212 urban water suppliers
• 35 environmental organizations
• 138 other interested parties
• Members pledge to develop and implement 14
  conservation best management practices
• 123 gcpd average residential use in CA

Source Environmental Protection Agency How we
use water in the United States
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California Urban Water Conservation Council cont.

• Goal Integrate urban water conservation into the
  planning and management of Californias water
  resources.
• Strategies
• Residential and ICI surveys
• Landscape surveys and rebates
• Appliance and fixture retrofits
• Conservation pricing

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California Urban Water Conservation Council cont.

• 430 billion gallons total water saved 1991-2004
• 200 billion gallons water saved from SF and MF
  ultra-low flush toilet (ULFT) replacement
• 89 billion gallons water saved from commercial
  and industrial incentives (ULFT replacement,
  water use surveys, etc.)
• 87 billion gallons water saved from landscape
  incentives (surveys, irrigation rebates, etc.)

Source List of BMP Summary for CUWCC 2003-2004
Annual Report
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Southern Nevada Water Authority

• Manages long-term water resource planning
• Wholesale water provider to 7 water agencies
• 157 gpcd residential water use in 2004
• 70 of winter use is used outdoors
• 90 of summer use is used outdoors

Source Southern Nevada Water Authority Water
use facts
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Southern Nevada Water Authority cont.

• Goal Achieve 25 conservation by 2010
• Strategies
• Tiered rate structure
• Water smart landscape rebate
• Irrigation clock rebate
• Water efficient technologies
• Water smart car wash
• Water smart contractor
• Water smart homes
• Conservation helpline
• Regional media campaign
• Xeriscape demonstration project

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Southern Nevada Water Authority cont.
Source Southern Nevada Water Authority Water
Resource Plan 2006
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Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning
Commission

• 67 gpcd residential water use in 2004

Source Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning
Commission (2005). Water Supply Issues in
Southeastern Wisconsin Technical and Policy
Needs and Challenges.
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Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning
Commission cont.

• Public education
• Fixture and plumbing management
• Water reuse
• Rate structures
• Outdoor water use restrictions
• Water loss management

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Twin Cities Metropolitan Area cont.

• Minnesota Statutes, Sections 473.859 and 103G.291
  require communities with public water supply
  systems to prepare a conservation plan
• Plan Requirements
• Education program
• Evaluation of rate structure

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Twin Cities Metropolitan Area cont.

• Community conservation efforts
• Education (bill inserts, web sites, newsletters,
  etc.)
• Conservation neutral or conservation rate
  structures
• Watering restrictions
• Rebate program
• Topsoil ordinances
• Tree ordinances

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Regional Opportunities

• Conservation toolbox
• Resource clearinghouse
• Model ordinances (topsoil preparation, watering
  restrictions, etc.)
• Water use customer education materials
• Model media releases
• Resources for evaluating conservation
  effectiveness
• Water use projection methods
• Re-evaluate water use, maximum day/average day
  ratio and unaccounted for water use benchmarks

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Regional Opportunities cont.

• Water use reduction goals
• Media campaign
• Native landscape demonstration projects
• Appliance and fixture retrofit program
• Landscape rebate program
• Water use customer audit program
• Conservation regulations

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