SWSIWaterConservationAndEfficiencyTRTWhitePaper

• Technical Roundtable: Water Efficiency
• Title: SWSI - Water Conservation and Efficiency White Paper
• SWSI II - Doc Type: White Papers

SWSI Phase 2 Technical Roundtable
Water Conservation and Efficiency
mandatory water use restrictions during drought conditions. This type of demand
modification usually involves drastic, temporary behavioral changes such as not
watering the lawn or washing the car. Droughts can also prompt permanent water
conservation benefits, such as retrofitting indoor plumbing devices with more
efficient water saving devices or reducing or eliminating high water use landscaping.
During the most recent drought, it was reported that mandatory restrictions resulted
in short-term water demand reductions of 20 to 30 percent (Kenny and Klein 2004).
Leve12 (Basic) M&I Conservation: This level of conservation consists of programs for
metering and leak detection, and can generally achieve about a 4 percent water
demand reduction in addition to the passive conservation reductions. It is assumed
that water providers would continue to fund programs to maintain this level of
savings in future years, thus the estimated percent reduction is a steady percent.
Leve13 (Moderate) M&I Conservation: This level of conservation typically includes
programs for metering and leak detection, education, rebates for water-efficient toilets
and washers, and a rate structure that promotes eff ective water use. This level of
effort generally corresponds with implementation of the nine water conservation
measures recommended by the CWCB for consideration in Colorado water
conservation plans. This level of conservation can generally achieve about 5 percent
water demand reduction in the short- to mid-term (10 years).
Leve14 (Aggressive) M&I Conservation: This level of conservation typically includes
programs above and beyond moderate conservation, including steep pricing rate and
surcharges, rebate for landscape changes, residential and commercial audits, turf
replacement and restrictions, rebates for irrigation sensors and controllers, sub-
metering of master-meter properties, and f ixture retrof it upon sale of properties. This
level of conservation can generally achieve about 10 percent water demand reduction
in the short- to mid-term (10 years) .
Leve15 MB~I Conservation: Program savings are influenced by the level of
participation and compliance with a given program. The prior levels of conservation
effort (2 through 4) assume a reasonable level of program participation. Level 5
assumes total participation by all customers and is intended to represent a maximum
level of effort in water use efficiency. Such a level of conservation is estimated to
achieve about 15 percent water demand reduction in the short- to mid-term (10 years).
It is important to note that the matrix shown in Table 1 shows future conservation
potential. The SWSI baseline county water use values of gallons per capita per day are
based upon year 2000 data and therefore implicitly include the "current" or year 2000
level of conservation effort. One cannot simply apply an assumed level of
conservation to a county demand number and expect the referred percent savings,
because water providers may be at or above the assumed level of conservation.
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S:IMEETINGSITECHNICAL ROUNDTABLEITRT MEETING - SPECIFICIWATER EFFICIENCYISWSI WATER EFFICIENCY TRT BRIEFING.DOC