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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />'" <br /> <br />~ <br />! <br /> <br />Demand-side Water Conservation <br /> <br />The second essential part of a comprehensive definition of <br /> <br />water conservation includes "demand-side" measures for decreasing <br /> <br />withdrawals or depletions by reducing demand through more efficient <br /> <br />use of available water supplies. More efficient use also includes <br /> <br />using water of impaired quality, such as sewage effluent and saline <br /> <br />waters, where feasible and appropriate: <br /> <br />The definition of water conservation in weStern state water <br /> <br />-resources management has been the subject of sharp disagreements. <br /> <br />In 1978, President Jimmy Carter established water conservation <br /> <br />as the cornerstone of his national water policy reform effort. <br /> <br />However, his Administration's initiatives were opposed by many <br /> <br />western states because the President opposed the construction of <br /> <br /> <br />new water projects and narrowly defined water conservation generally <br /> <br />in terms of demand. The Carter Administration's definition included <br /> <br />measures to: <br /> <br />(1) reduce the demand for water: (2) improve efficiency <br /> <br />in use and reduce losses and waste: and (3) improve land management <br />. 1/ <br />pract~ces to conserve water. - <br /> <br />Western state water resource administrators view demand-side <br /> <br />water conservation measures as essential, but not as a general <br /> <br />long term substitute for the future development of additional <br /> <br />storage and other new sources of water. Again, they view the role <br /> <br />of water conservation in western water resources management as <br /> <br />providing additional water supplies for more uses. The wise use <br />of existing and future water supplies is imperative. <br />