Cases in Water Conservation: How Efficiency Programs Help Water Utilities Save Water and Avoid Costs
United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water
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Water utilities across the United States and elsewhere in North America are saving substantial amounts of water through strategic water-efficiency programs. These savings often translate into capital and operating savings, which allow systems to defer or avoid significant expenditures for water supply facilities and wastewater facilities. These case studies feature the efforts and achievements of 17 water systems. These systems range in size from small to very large, and their efficiency programs incorporate a wide range of techniques for achieving various water management goals. In every case, the results are impressive. The following summary table provides an overview of the case studies, highlighting problems addressed, approaches taken, and results achieved. In general, water conservation programs also produce many environmental benefits, including reduced energy use, reduced wastewater discharges, and protection of aquatic habitats. The incidence of water conservation and water reuse programs has increased dramatically in the last 10 years. Once associated only with the arid West, these programs have spread geographically to almost all parts of the United States. In many cities, the scope of water conservation programs has expanded to include not only residential customers, but commercial, institutional, and industrial customers as well. These case studies illustrate some of the tangible results achieved by water conservation programs implemented at the local level. Many of these accomplishments have broader relevance to other communities facing similar water resource management and infrastructure investment issues. EPA used secondary data sources to compile these case studies. These sources are cited in the "Resources" section at the end of each piece. In addition, contacts for each water system have reviewed and approved their case study. Because the case studies come from secondary sources, the type of information provided is not necessarily uniform or comparable, and is not intended to provided generalized results. The terms water conservation and water efficiency are used here in their broadest context, which includes water loss management, wastewater reclamation and reuse for non-potable purposes, adoption of conservation water rates, changes to more efficient water-using equipment, and behavioral changes that reduce water use.
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