Are you a water conservation leader? That’s a good question, but how exactly do you measure leadership when it comes to water resource management? Should the metric be gallons saved per year? How about best use of resources available? Should we count an engaged consumer base and a successful public information campaign? Or should most leaks detected and pipes fixed be the standard for success?
The Institute for Local Government has put together a guide to help water purveyors large and small meet efficiency goals while intelligently managing their water resources. Entitled “Water Conservation Leadership Guide: Issues for Local Officials to Consider”, the handbook’s main goal is help identify “key issues local officials may consider to understand the options available to their agencies to use water resources more efficiently and ensure that their agencies are complying with the law.”
So how does a water purveyor make sure they are on the right track? By following some of these guidelines:
• Meeting the state mandate to reduce urban water use by 20% by the
year 2020 will depend upon the efforts of all urban water users,
including local agencies.
• Having policies and procedures in place to assess, maintain, and repair
existing plumbing fixtures, pipes, and irrigation systems in all agency
buildings and facilities is critical to efficient water use. This includes
building and parking lot landscaping, public restrooms in parks, golf
courses, community centers, and other recreational facilities.
• Examining the agency’s outside irrigation practices may have water-
saving potential. For example, adjusting landscaping watering
schedules each season can save water. Similarly, adjusting sprinklers
so they do not spill onto driveways and sidewalks or shut off when
broken can save water.
• Auditing the energy use of water pumps and motors is also important
for energy efficiency. Replacing existing water pumps and motors
with more energy efficient models may provide an additional benefit
by reducing energy use and lowering energy bills.
• Agencies with water efficient policies and practices for their own
buildings and operations in place are more effective in encouraging or
requiring homeowners and businesses to adopt water saving practices.
So what do you think? Are the suggestions in this handbook helpful or too pedestrian? What level of expertise should be assumed amongst water purveyors—do we have to start at the beginning, or should we be drilling down into the details? And is a handbook even the best method to approach the subject of water efficiency leadership, or should we be taking advantage of the new mediums of communication available, including online forums, webinars, and conferences? Or should we split the difference?