The Water Efficiency Blogs

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The Blogger

Elizabeth Cutright Water Efficiency Editor

WE Editor's Blog

Elizabeth Cutright is the Editor of Water Efficiency magazine.

November 17th, 2008 11:57am PST

Reuse Revisited

Posted By Elizabeth Cutright Comments

As the editor of Onsite Water Treatment (a sister publication that is still available online ), I began to see how decentralization and efficiency are two sides of the same coin: both offer solutions for reducing demand and controlling waste.  Adding water reuse into the mix further transforms decentralized water treatment into a powerful water conservation tool. 

As a mentioned in a previous blog,... continue reading

November 10th, 2008 11:56am PST

Turf Revisited

Posted By Elizabeth Cutright Comments

What are the pros and cons of turf replacement programs?  It’s an important question.  After all, a majority of water use (and a good portion of water waste) happens outside.  As a result, modifying traditional landscaping to reduce demand has become a major conservation tactic for communities throughout the country. 

As a discussed in a previous blog, Las Vegas has a very successful turf replacement program that has spawned imitations in... continue reading

November 3rd, 2008 8:41am PST

Taking it to the Next Level

Posted By Elizabeth Cutright 1 Comment

All along, Water Efficiency has been banging the drum of smart water resource management.  All of our stories as well as the many technologies, products and services we have highlighted over the last 18 months have focused on one central theme: the efficient administration and conservation of water resources.

And now it’s time to take it to the next level…

continue reading

October 27th, 2008 11:53am PST

The Nine Steps

Posted By Elizabeth Cutright 1 Comment

On October 22, 2008, Washington-based American Rivers released its report on the Southeast’s water crisis.  Entitled “Hidden Reservoir: Why Water Efficiency Is the Best Solution for the Southeast.” The report essentially states that improvements in water efficiency—demand reduction, pipe and pump rehabilitation, low-flow fixtures, and smart irrigation—will result in... continue reading

October 20th, 2008 6:53am PST

Water…Lemons

Posted By Elizabeth Cutright Comments

While attending one of my first conferences as the editor of Water Efficiency, I wandered into a presentation about the importance of public outreach and marketing for small water utilities.  Truth be told, I was hopelessly lost and had actually intended sit in on a panel about automatic meter reading.  But the speaker had already begun by the time I realized my mistake, and so I stayed put – convinced that whatever I was going to hear would have little to... continue reading

October 13th, 2008 12:05pm PST

To Turf or Not to Turf…

Posted By Elizabeth Cutright Comments

I spent a lot of time on the road last week, traversing the great state of Nevada from its Northern tip to its Southern valley.   I spent five consecutive days inside planes and cars, in hotel rooms and conference halls—even wandering around a casino or two.  Desperate for sunlight and fresh air, I eventually braved the heat and wind of Las Vegas to spend some downtime at the hotel pool.  From the inside it beckoned, a glittering oasis of cool blue... continue reading

October 6th, 2008 1:37pm PST

News You May Have Missed

Posted By Elizabeth Cutright 3 Comments

If you didn’t get a chance to read about the almost-$10,000 water bill issued to an Ogden, Utah man, it’s well worth taking a look. (For the full story, go here.)

In August, Rick Baur was billed $9,700 for the alleged use of 1.4 million gallons of water. Baur does not run a car wash or own a large farm, nor does he live on a large piece of landscaped property (by his own... continue reading

September 29th, 2008 7:02am PST

The Wall Street Ripple Effect

Posted By Elizabeth Cutright Comments

Scary story #1: Due to the collapse of the US housing market, mayors in many parts of Florida have been warned that their municipal tax base will likely shrink by $1.5 trillion this year.

Scary story #2: Last week, Buffalo, NY’s comptroller’s office confirmed that rising interest rates on the variable rate bonds used to finance improvements to the municipal water system have cost the city an additional $90,000 in borrowing costs.... continue reading

September 22nd, 2008 8:39am PST

Let it Rain!

Posted By Elizabeth Cutright 1 Comment

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association’s (ARCSA) annual conference in Santa Monica, CA. The theme of the conference was “Water – The New California Gold Rush,” and a variety of professional voices presented ideas great and small regarding the justification for and the installation of rainwater catchment systems not only in California, but also throughout the country.

Some fun... continue reading

September 15th, 2008 6:52am PST

Another Perspective

Posted By Elizabeth Cutright 1 Comment

In our latest issue, we focus on Bullhead City, AZ’s decision to switch from decentralized wastewater treatment to a centralized system that incorporates water reuse. (Taking the Bull by the Horns ) As the article points out, among the many benefits resulting form this infrastructure overhaul is the added protection to the increasingly threatened Colorado River basin. ... continue reading