Q: Water conservation is the right thing to do, but how do we know it really works?
A: Water conservation has been researched for many years across the country. No longer just a response to drought, nor only a way to feel good about your contribution to society or the environment. Many scientific studies have proven water conservation to be the most economical and environmentally friendly way of meeting water supply needs.
Q: Water conservation seems like a big investment up front, how long will it take for me to see the financial benefits of my investment?
A: Water conservation initiatives can require some up-front investments. However, this investment can be quickly returned.
An example for water providers comes from Clayton County, Georgia. Clayton County Water and Sewer Authority developed a five-year leak detection and repair program. For every dollar they invested in the program, they saved $9.00 in reduced water production and delivery (this includes full-time staff, technical equipment, and implementation) (Jones 2004).
For individuals, just replacing a high volume toilet with an ultra-low-flow (ULF) toilet can reduce average annual water use by 15,600 gallons, and the cost of the toilet can be recovered in only 1.5 years (recovered costs come in reduced water use charges).
Q: I know there is an outdoor watering schedule in place, but how is it being enforced? Who can I contact when my neighbors are violating the watering schedule?
A: The outdoor watering schedule has been in effect statewide
since March 2003. However, due to drought
conditions across Georgia,
the Director of the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has
issued a level
four drought declaration across the northern third of Georgia, which prohibits most types of outdoor residential water use effective as of September 28, 2007.
The declaration requires that Georgians in the northern part of the state not use water outdoors, unless for commercial operations (see exemptions section in Rules). The rest of the state continues to be at a level two drought response and may use water outdoors as follows:
- Odd-numbered addresses may water only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays,
from 12 midnight to 10 a.m. only.
- Even-numbered and unnumbered addresses may water only on Mondays, Wednesdays
and Saturdays, from 12 midnight to 10 a.m. only.
- No watering on Fridays.
Your local water provider is responsible for enforcing
the schedule, but friendly reminders to your neighbors never hurts.
Feel free to use and distribute the fact sheets and homeowner and business tips available on the ConserveWaterGeorgia home page and Rules for Outdoor Water Use .
Q: Can my local government help me implement water conservation at home? (and/or) What should my local government be doing to implement water conservation (in order to help my community)?
A: Scientists have found that when a local water provider or local government invests in water conservation program, benefits are experienced by both the locality and the citizens of the community. Creating a successful water conservation program at the local level takes some planning. It requires a comprehensive look to long-term water supply planning. Independent water conservation measures can surely reduce water use, but localities need to invest in long-term programs in order to realize the full benefits of water conservation. Researchers (Keyes et al 2004) recommend a local government develop a water conservation program with these seven components:
- political leadership,
- stakeholder involvement in the planning and implementation
stages,
- a detailed policy outlining goals and conservation
measures,
- detailed water use data, demand forecasting, and
monitoring,
- stable funding sources for water conservation initiatives,
- sufficient staff and technical assistance to implement the
program, and
- broad-based education and outreach.
Much research has gone into this question and there is quite a lot of information to help local governments develop successful water conservation programs.
Q: Why should I support water conservation if it only allows for increased urban development?
A: It is a common misconception that water conservation
is implemented only to allow more people to move to an area or
to increase development. That is simply not true. Water conservation,
by definition is the reduction in water use, waste, and loss. When
viewed and practiced as such, water conservation can has many benefits
- environmental, economic, social and political. A major benefit
of conserving water is the protection of streams, wetlands, estuaries,
as well as extending the life of existing water supplies. Water
conservation should not be confused with water allocation. Other
forums should be used to decide how water in streams and aquifers
is to be used.
Q: What is a conservation rate structure, who does it benefit, and how does it work?
A: A water conservation-oriented
rate structure is a billing system implemented by a water provider that encourages water users, or customers, to reduce water use. Adopting a water conservation rate structure
is a good first step in implementing a water conservation program.
For water users, a water conservation rate structure encourages
conservation and discourages over use by charging the consumer
based on volume of water used (if you conserve, your water bill
is minimal, if you use excessive amounts of water, your bill is
higher). For water providers, a water conservation rate structure
can be designed to ensure enough revenue is generated to cover
operation and maintenance, and still encourage users to conserve.
The billing splits into two sections: the first a base rate to
cover basic operation and maintenance and the second based on volume
of water used per customer. Any additional revenue generated by
those choosing to use excessive water can be reinvested in the
delivery system. Often water providers raise rates across the board
to help pay debts, unequally burdening those who try to conserve.
A truly effective conservation rate structure charges less money
for reasonable water usage and more money for wasteful water use
such as excessive outdoor watering.
For Georgia specific guidance on what goes into developing conservation-oriented rate structures, see the document entitled "Conservation-Oriented Rate Structures" developed to support the Coastal Permitting Plan.
Q: Does water conservation help prevent drought?
A: As human beings, we can never prevent drought. Drought conditions will occur again in Georgia. By making water conservation a part of our everyday lives, we can prepare ourselves for drought conditions and minimize the negative impacts to humans and the environment. The Georgia State Drought Management Plan presents a systematic way of assessing the level of drought (if any) and triggering responses to mitigate the impact. Drought levels 1 through 4 are used to indicate the severity of a drought (level 4 being an extreme drought.) Recommended actions increase as the drought level increases.
The Board of Natural Resources adopted Rules for Outdoor Water
Use, Chapter 391-3-30 in May 2004. Under the rules, Georgians are required
to follow schedules for outdoor water use during both non-drought
periods and during periods of declared drought. The rules are consistent
with Section 4 (Drought Responses) of the Georgia Drought Management
Plan, which the Board adopted in 2003.
The rules apply to any entity, and its customers, permitted by
EPD for water withdrawal
or for the operation of a public drinking water supply system.
Q: How much water can a community expect to save if they implement aggressive water conservation?
A: Savings from water conservation programs will
vary based on your community's situation. Factors such as identifying
the highest water users, climate conditions/weather, and current
conservation practices (if any) can play a role in determining
what you can expect to accomplish. However, research shows that
the average community can expect to see anywhere from 11% to 30%
reduction in water use after implementing a water conservation
program.
Q: My community already has a water conservation education program, isn't that enough?
A: Education is only a piece of the puzzle. Water conservation requires a thoughtful and coordinated approach in order to be a successful long-term water management strategy. See the earlier question regarding local water conservation programs.
Information for this page was collected from:
- Federal Energy Management Program "How to Buy a Water-Saving Replacement Toilet"
- Gleick, P. et al. 2003. Waste Not, Want Not: The Potential for Urban Water Conservation in California. Pacific Institute. Nov. 2003. 164 pgs.
- Keyes, A.M., M. Schmitt, and J. Hinkle. 2004. "Critical Components of Conservation Programs that Get Results: A National Analysis". AWWA – Water Sources Conference Proceedings. Jan. 2004. 15 pgs.
- U.S. EPA. 2002. Cases in Conservation: How Efficiency Programs Help Water Utilities Save Water and Avoid Costs. US EPA Office of Water (4204M). EPA 832-B-02-003. July, 2002.
- Vickers, A. 2001. Handbook of water use and conservation: homes, landscapes, businesses, industries, farms. Waterplow Press. 446 pgs.
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