Water efficiency and conservation are typically the fastest and least expensive ways to help ensure that communities and agriculture have access to affordable, sustainable water supplies. Making every drop of water count is especially important today, with climate change fueling hotter, dryer weather. Nearly every state experienced drought in 2022, including the worst drought in hundreds of years in the western U.S.
However, water efficiency and conservation offer multiple sustainability benefits beyond keeping the water running, just as energy efficiency does more than keep the lights on. As we celebrate Earth Day, it’s an excellent time to de-bunk the common misperception that water efficiency and conservation are only important in arid regions or when drought sets in.
Despite these many benefits, water efficiency and conservation continue to be underfunded. State and federal governments leave nearly the entire tab for water efficiency to local water agencies, many of which are cash-strapped because of aging infrastructure, the cost of new environmental and public health protections, and inflation. New federal funding for water infrastructure should help local water providers, but only modest funding was allocated for water efficiency.
An analysis our staff conducted in May 2021 found that federal spending on energy efficiency and renewable energy outpaced spending on water efficiency and water reuse by approximately 80 to 1 between 2000 and 2020. In addition, AWE’s recent State Policy Scorecard for Water Efficiency and Sustainability found that only 17 states provide water efficiency funding, which is relatively small in most states.
You can help by asking state and federal lawmakers to invest in water efficiency. For tips on how to use water wisely at home, check out AWE’s Home Water Works Website and Calculator to learn more.
