Water Conservation Planning

One of the first steps when starting a water conservation program is developing a water conservation plan. A number of conservation planning guidance documents are available to assist in the process. The American Water Works Association (AWWA) M52 Water Conservation Programs - A Planning Manual offers a detailed description of the planning process, and identifies 10 needed water conservation planning steps:

1. Review detailed demand forecast
2. Review existing water system profile and descriptions of planned facilities
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of existing conservation measures
4. Define conservation potential
5. Identify conservation measures
6. Determine feasible measures
7. Perform benefit-cost evaluations
8. Select and package conservation measures
9. Combine overall estimated savings
10. Optimize demand forecasts

Preparing water conservation plans and programs should be a utility-wide effort, involving the water resource, finance, IT, customer service and public affairs departments. With strong involvement from all utility departments, a water conservation program is much more likely to be successful.

Related resources:

• Western Resource Advocates (2018) Integrating Water Efficiency into Land Use Planning: A Guidebook for Local Planners 
• Amy Vickers (2001) Handbook of Water Use and Conservation
• TWRI (2016) Utility Customer Profile Guide for Water Conservation Planning 
• Texas Water Development Board (2004) Water Conservation Best Management Practices Guide
• California Urban Water Conservation Council (2002) Freeriders in ULFT Programs
• US EPA (2002) Cases in Water Conservation: How Efficiency Programs Help Water Utilities Save Water and Avoid Costs