Water Conservation Measures
Contents
- Water Efficiency Requirements
- Water Metering
- Water Leak Detection
- Conservation Pricing - Water Rates
- Landscaping
- Water Reuse
- Consumer Education
- Additional Resources
- Related MRSC Pages
Water Efficiency Requirements
In 2003, the Washington State Legislature passed the Municipal Water Supply - Efficiency Requirements Act, Laws of 2003, 1st Ex. Sess. Ch.5 (RCW 70.119.180), which directed the Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water, to adopt water use efficiency rules by December 2005. The water use efficiency program became effective January 22, 2007. See the Washington State Department of Health Water Use Efficiency webpage. Water use efficiency elements include planning requirements, distribution leakage standards, water use efficiency goal-setting, and performance reporting.
Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water Efficiency References
- Municipal Water Law - Department of Health
- Water Use Efficiency - Department of Health - provides rules, documents, fact sheets, and guidebook
- Water Use Efficiency Guide Book (
), Department of Health, January 2011
- Water Use Efficiency Subcommittee Report (), April 2005
Metering Requirements
Source and service metering are key to a successful water use efficiency program. Source and service meters provide the data necessary for determining leakage, to assist in managing an important resource, and to enhance planning activities. All municipal water suppliers must meter their existing and new service connections. The new regulations are summarized in Chapter 2 of the Water Use Efficiency Guidebook ().
- Water Meters (), Ch. 2, Water Use Efficiency Guidebook, Department of Health, January 2011
- Universal Water Metering - Level 1 Measure in Appendix A of USEPA Water Conservation Plan Guidelines, 1998
Water Leak Detection
A distribution system leakage (DSL) standard is a significant element of the new water use efficiency (WUE) requirements. Guidelines and information on creating DSL standards are contained below.
- Distribution System Leakage (), Ch. 6, Water Use Efficiency Guidebook, Department of Health, January 2011
- Reduce Leaks: Using Water Audits and Leak Detection Surveys (), Department of Health DOH Publication No. 331-388, February 2008
- Water Accounting and Loss Control - Level 1 Measure in Appendix A of USEPA Water Conservation Plan Guidelines, 1998
- Water Audits and Leak Detection, Second Edition, American Water Works Association, 1999 MRSC Library Loan (UW 3.000)
- Water Loss Control - WaterWiser, American Water Works Association (AWWA)
Conservation Pricing - Water Rates
One of the most effective tools for water conservation is the rate structure. Rate structures and practices that promote the efficient use of water should be the goal to ensure sufficient resources to meet competing uses.
- Conservation-Oriented Rates for Washington Public Water Systems in Washington: Report to the Legislature (
) - Department of Health, December 1995.
- Conservation Pricing of Water and Wastewater () - Holly Stallworth, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000
- Water Rates () - Department of Health Questions & Answers, DOH 331-327, Updated January 2011
- Description of Conservation-Oriented Rate Structures () from Conservation-Oriented Rates for Washington Public Water Systems in Washington: Report to the Legislature, Department of Health, December 1995, pp. 4-5, 19-25.
- Water Conservation-Oriented Rates, American Water Works Association, 2005 Publishers Blurb
- Water Rates: Paying for Drinking Water (), Department of Health Fact Sheet, Publication No. 331-372, August 2005
- Sample Conservation Rate Structures - MRSC
Landscaping
- Xeriscaping Conserves Water (), by Michelle Moore, On Tap, National Environmental Services Center, Spring 2008
- City of Bellevue Waterwise Gardening
- Glendale, Arizona - Landscape Rebate Program
- Oak Harbor Municipal Code Sec. 19.46.040 - General Landscaping Standards. See (6) - Irrigation and Watering and (11) Xeriscape Process
- Redmond Conservation Garden - Includes plant list, irrigation strategy, natural lawn strategy
- Seattle Public Utilities Natural Lawn and Garden Care
- Sprinkling and Irrigation Regulations - MRSC
- Woodinville Water District Water Efficient Demonstration Garden
Water Reuse
Standards for water reuse were developed under the authority of and pursuant to specific requirements in Ch. 90.46 RCW.
State References
- Water Reclamation and Reuse - Department of Ecology
- Water Conservation Using Greywater () - Department of Health Fact Sheet, 2005
- Water Reclamation and Reuse Standards () - Department of Ecology (DOH, DOE #97-23), 1997
- Water Reclamation and Reuse - The Demonstration Projects, 2000 - Department of Ecology
Local Government Examples
- Everett Public Works Reclaimed Water
- King County Reclaimed Water: Planning for the Future - King County Reclaimed Water Comprehensive Plan
- Olympia Reclaimed Water
- Sequim Municipal Code Ch. 13.112 () - Reclaimed Water
- Yelm Ordinance No. 684 () - An ordinance for use of reclaimed water (12/99)
Other Resources
- Wastewater Reuse Conserves Water and Protects Waterways (), by Caigen McKenzie, OnTap, Winter 2005
- There Is No Silver Bullet: The City of Bend, OR, Uses a Variety of Conservation Methods to Promote Management and Communitywide Water Conservation, by Carol Brzozowski, Water Efficiency, March/April 2007
- Water Recycling and Reuse: The Environmental Benefit - EPA Region 9
- WaterReuse Association
Consumer Education
Information and education are critical to the success of any conservation program.
- Information and Education - Level 1, Appendix A of USEPA Water Conservation Plan Guidelines, 1998
- Bellingham Water Conservation - Includes rain barrels
- Everett Public Works Water Conservation Plan
- Ferndale Water Saving Tips - Room by Room
- Liberty Lake Water and Sewer District Water Conservation
- Mercer Island Water Conservation
- Redmond Drinking Water
- Richland - Water Conservation
- Seattle Water Conservation Rebates and Technical Assistance (Commercial Customers)
- Highline Water District Conservation
- Woodinville Water District Water Conservation
- Saving Water Partnership - A group of local utilities that funds water conservation programs in Seattle and King County.
Additonal Resources
- Handbook of water use and conservation: homes, landscapes, businesses, industries, farms, by Amy Vickers, 2001, MRSC Library Loan
- Using the Water Bill to Foster Conservation (), by Jeff Hoffman, On Tap, Winter 2010
- Water Conservation Programs: A Planning Manual, American Water Works Association, 2005, MRSC Library Loan
- Water Efficiency: The Journal for Water Conservation Professionals - Forrester Communications
- Washington's Wasted Water (), Center for Environmental Law and Policy
Return to MRSC Water Conservation Contents
Related MRSC Resources
MRSC Index – Water conservation, water use efficiency, drought management and planning