Water Efficiency Watch – April 2025

In this issue...

• AWE Staff & Board of Directors
• 2025 Symposium
• Research Updates
• Policy Updates
• News from Members and Partners
• News Briefs

AWE Staff & Board of Directors

Introducing Our New Slate of Board Members
In January, we were honored to have several new additions to our Board of Directors. We are excited to have such a diversity of regions, perspectives, and areas of expertise added to our board with the addition of each of these leaders. Please join us in welcoming:

- Terrence McCarthy of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
- Samantha McLelland of Kohler Co.
- Craig Jones of Las Virgenes Municipal Water Department

Introducing Our New Staff Member
In January, we also welcomed Devin Foster Smith as a Researcher on the AWE team! Devin brings a wealth of research expertise to support our mission of improving water efficiency and conservation across North America. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Villanova University and a Master of Science and PhD in Earth Sciences from The Ohio State University. Her previous research explored water resources in urban, agricultural, and natural environments around the world, tackling complex problems at the intersection of climate change, environmental justice, and water resources. At AWE, she is supporting the program team with quantitative and qualitative data collection and reporting—strengthening the foundation of our research.

2025 Water Efficiency & Conservation Symposium

We’re gearing up for our 3rd Annual Water Efficiency & Conservation Symposium! Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract for consideration in this year’s program. If you haven’t done so already, we invite you to submit a member-nominated award prior to the April 18^th deadline. Don’t miss your chance to recognize outstanding contributions in our field.

Keep an eye out for early bird registration, which opens in early May! The 2025 Symposium will continue the high-quality programming you expect from AWE events, featuring three days of professional development, meaningful networking, and idea sharing. The program includes short presentations, panels, and roundtables focused on actionable research, practical resources, and peer-to-peer learning for water efficiency and sustainability professionals.

Symposium Sponsorship Packages
Want to make a big impact at the upcoming Symposium? Join us as a sponsor! Sponsorship connects your organization with top leaders in water conservation while offering valuable marketing and visibility opportunities.

We offer a range of sponsorship options, including Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze packages, plus à la carte opportunities to fit your needs. Explore the sponsorship details here. Have questions or need help finding the right fit? Email us—we’d love to chat!

2025 Symposium Sponsors
Thank you to all the generous sponsors partnering with us to host the 2025 event!

Research Updates

Help Shape AWE’s New Water Conservation & Efficiency 101 Training 

We are developing a Water Conservation & Efficiency 101 Training Program for new-to-the-field professionals, and we need your input! Join an ad-hoc steering committee to brainstorm foundational industry topics, concepts, essential skills, structure, and best practices for the training program. Your expertise will ensure future generations of water conservation professionals are equipped to address the industry’s most pressing challenges.

📅 Steering Committee Kick Off Meeting: Tuesday, April 8, 1:00–2:15 pm Central
💻 Where: Microsoft Teams
✉️ How to Join: Email research@a4we.org to receive the meeting invite.

Can’t make the kick-off meeting but still want to participate? We expect to have two or three 60–90-minute meetings across April-June to provide input at the early stages of pilot development. Please email us at research@a4we.org to join the ad-hoc steering committee and receive communications on future meeting opportunities.

Advancing Water Affordability in Suburban Cook County, IL

As part of the Cook County Water Affordability Program, we are working with the Village of Riverdale, IL and Village of Posen, IL to conduct water affordability analyses, engage in community outreach and education, and develop water affordability action plans for both communities. During this quarter, AWE has hosted two in-person meetings with Village leadership to collaborate on data collection, understand the unique challenges for each community, and identify opportunities for engagement with residents.

The program is being administered by Elevate, and aims to help suburban Cook County residents who experience ongoing challenges to pay their water bills through technical assistance, bill relief, and leak repairs. 

Engaging with Business and Industry on Water Stewardship 

In partnership and with funding from Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), we have been exploring best management practices being employed by business and industries (B&I) across Michigan and the region to advance water conservation and efficiency. In support of this project, AWE hosted a webinar on “Advancing Water Stewardship Across the Great Lakes Region,” where B&I leaders heard from regional and local organizations that are working alongside B&I leaders to advance sustainable water management practices through technical assistance, research, and industry learning.

Thank you to our attendees and our speakers from Fresh Coast Climate Solutions, The Water Council, The CEO Water Mandate, and the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program for an engaged conversation! 

Understanding Outdoor Water Use Behaviors for New-Homeowners: Irrigation Education Pilot in Round Rock, TX 

AWE is partnering with the City of Round Rock, TX to implement a water behavior pilot throughout this upcoming irrigation season, focusing on rightsizing outdoor irrigation for new homeowners. With Round Rock’s rapid population growth, new residents, particularly those from out-of-state, represent a key opportunity for water savings and behavior change, as they may be unfamiliar with the local landscape, climate, and the utility’s irrigation restrictions. Thank you to Round Rock and our Program Advisory Committee for helping shape this effort! hank you Round Rock and our Program Advisory Committee for helping shape this effort!

With funding from the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, this project will synthesize current knowledge and previously researched efforts on behavior-based strategies to understand what drives residential outdoor water use and irrigation behaviors.  

Exploring Utility Business Models for Managing Water Demand Reduction  

In partnership and with funding support from The Water Research Foundation, AWE and Pacific Institute have launched a groundbreaking project (WRF #5327) to evaluate new and updated strategies for pricing, rate design, planning, and utility services to align revenue stability with supply reliability, water-use efficiency, and demand reduction. Through expert interviews, surveys, and a robust literature review, the project aims to produce a guidebook featuring actionable recommendations, case studies, and resources for utilities across the United States.

Interested in sharing your experience and ideas? We’re gathering insights for this project through expert interviews and a survey. Reach out to research@a4we.org to learn more.

Peak Water Demand Trends and Management Strategies Across North America 

In support of WRF #5265, we launched a survey to capture how water utilities across diverse geographic areas and organizational structures monitor and manage peak water demands. The survey's findings will provide a broader context to complement a set of in-depth case studies.

Thank you to the thirty utilities across fourteen US states and Canadian provinces that participated and supported this effort!

To stay up to date with AWE’s research, check out the “Active Research” section on our website here. 

Policy Updates

Championing Support for the WaterSense Program
In Early 2025, we took swift action to defend the important role that the WaterSense program plays in advancing water efficiency and conservation across the county. This came in response to an Executive Order from the Trump administration that suggested rolling back efficiency policies, citing concerns over consumer choice and specifically mentioning appliances regulated under water and energy efficiency programs.

AWE drafted a support letter to the U.S. EPA, rallying 90 member organizations and partners to sign on and highlight WaterSense’s benefits. Alongside partners in the plumbing industry, we engaged with EPA leadership to emphasize how the voluntary WaterSense program expands consumer choice while saving Americans money on water and energy bills. We will continue to advocate for the continued funding and expansion of WaterSense.

In March, we then released this fact sheet, “WaterSense Saves Americans Money and Supports American Manufacturers” further articulating the critical importance of this program.

Eliminating Federal Taxes on Water Efficiency Rebates 

One of our key policy priorities for years has been to end the taxing of water efficiency rebates. In March, bipartisan, bicameral legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate and House. The Water Conservation Rebate Tax Parity Act would eliminate federal taxation of water efficiency rebates, a disincentive to participation and an administrative burden for agencies that issue rebates. AWE is circulating a sign-on letter to congressional leadership supporting this legislation. We are hopeful this could be the year to pass the Tax Parity Act. To add your organization’s name alongside 62 other partners, please email us.

To stay up to date with AWE’s policy work, check out our Policy Priorities and Policy Activities sections of our website. 

Recent Webinars 

Understanding & Tackling CII Water Use Roundtable | February 2025
In February, we hosted a webinar on the opportunities that commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) properties offer for water savings, but are notoriously tricky to navigate. This roundtable explored the resources available to utilities for classifying and tackling water use in the CII sector.

Tune in to hear the latest from CalWEP on the “Making Conservation a California Way of Life” framework, which includes a requirement to classify CII accounts, get a preview of East Bay Municipal Utility District’s newly updated WaterSmart Guidebook designed for commercial customers, and get a refresher on other available resources like WaterSense at Work.

The recording is available here.

Federal Policy Updates: Q1 | March 2025
In March, we hosted a webinar bringing together water policy experts from across the country. With a new Congress and administration in 2025, AWE and our partners are working to ensure that federal policies support water efficiency. We met in late March to share updates from DC on the future of the WaterSense program and key policy priorities for AWE and our members.

The webinar featured insights from leaders at Plumbing Manufacturers International, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and AWE.

While a recording of this webinar is not available, please email us if you’d like to receive the presentation slide deck.

AWE Member Spotlights

Arizona State University & City of Phoenix Release New Guide
Arizona State University and the City of Phoenix have collaborated to develop Harvest the Water-Saving Potential in Your Yard, a comprehensive guide designed to help residents implement practical, desert-friendly water conservation strategies. Phoenix notes that this resource, created through a multi-semester project, reflects the City’s commitment to sustainability by equipping the community with actionable solutions for reducing water use at home.

With a growing population and increasing pressures on water resources, Phoenix is embracing a Culture of Conservation—one that recognizes water efficiency as both a necessity and an opportunity for long-term resilience. The guide highlights best practices such as rainwater harvesting, xeriscaping, and efficient irrigation to support residents in making informed, sustainable choices.

By fostering community engagement and providing accessible conservation tools, ASU and the City of Phoenix are striving to ensure that water stewardship remains a shared responsibility. Their work exemplifies how collaboration between academia and local government can drive meaningful change, strengthening the region’s ability to adapt to a changing climate while maintaining a secure water future.

Eastern Municipal Water District featured in a Recent Interview
In the latest episode of The Drop podcast, Jenna Shimmin, Director of Water Use Efficiency at Eastern Municipal Water District, breaks down the importance of defensible space for wildfire protection. She shares how smart landscaping choices can help safeguard homes, conserve water, and boost curb appeal. Listen to the episode “Smart Landscaping for Wildfire Protection” here.

Mesa Water District Opens Local Water Education Center
Congratulations to Mesa Water District on launching the Mesa Water Education Center, a first-of-its-kind facility in Orange County, California, that’s bringing water education to life for students and the community.

Opened in January, the center is packed with interactive exhibits designed to spark curiosity about water—from exploring underground aquifers to tasting the district’s unique “redwood tea” (water that’s been filtered through ancient redwood remnants for 12,000 years!). As the LA Times put it, “Most kids dream of careers in fashion or music, not hydrogeology or water engineering—but Mesa Water is working to change that through educating students about the earth’s climate, weather systems, and the water cycle.”

This hands-on approach helps students see water in action, understand the infrastructure that keeps it flowing, and even experiment with their own mini aquifers. With a 100% local, drought-resilient supply, Mesa Water is not just ensuring reliability; it’s inspiring the next generation to consider careers in water.

We love to see our members leading the way in engaging, impactful water education. Well done, Mesa Water!

News Briefs

Zoos Highlight Efficacy of Rainwater Harvesting. Read More.
Southern California is About to Get its First Rain in Months. Here’s What it Means for the Fires. Read More.
Rising Water Bills Could Swamp Household Budgets. Read More.
Wildflowers Will Be Sparser This Season Due to Texas Drought, Experts Predict. Read More.
Will Colorado See Drought Conditions Start to Develop This Spring? Read More.
From Deluges to Drought: Climate Change Speeds Up Water Cycle, Triggers More Extreme Weather. Read more.
AZ Drought Persists: 'You Can't Get Much Lower Than This,' Experts Say of Snowmelt. Read More.