Water Efficiency: A Utility Player
Why would a water utility, an organization that sells water, want
to encourage people to use less of it? Surprisingly, both utilities
and their customers can benefit substantially when they use water
more efficiently.
For starters, many water systems across the country do not generate
enough revenue to cover their operating costs. That means for every
gallon sold, more money flows out than flows in. For these utilities,
selling less water actually improves the bottom line.
For systems on a firmer financial footing, selling less water may
decrease profits. But sales losses can be offset when treatment,
disposal, and energy costs come down because less water is processed.
On average, these savings can offset about 30 percent of the losses
associated with selling less water.
Most importantly, the U.S. population is projected to increase
significantly over the next 35 years, and virtually every water
system will face pressure to meet growing demand. Put simply, the
best way to avoid the need for costly large-scale expansion tomorrow
is to start increasing water efficiency today.
Benefits Beyond the Bottom Line
Besides saving water and reducing costs, water efficiency offers
many other benefits:
- Less water withdrawn from rivers, lakes, and aquifers, which
keeps these water bodies healthy.
- Improved water quality due to increased river flows.
- Less energy required to pump and treat the water, and therefore
less greenhouse gas emissions.
- Less wastewater that requires collection, treatment, and disposal.
- Less pollution from treated wastewater in our streams and waterways.
Savings in Action
Water utilities across the United States are saving substantial
amounts of water by encouraging water efficiency. These savings
often translate into capital and operating savings, which allow
utilities to defer or avoid significant expenses for water supply
facilities and wastewater facilities. A case study from the
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority is featured below:
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
The
Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) is a wholesale water
provider for more than 2 million people in the greater Boston area.
In 1986, MWRA began a water conservation program including leak
detection and repair, plumbing retrofits, water management, education,
and water meter improvements. By 1997, these efforts succeeded in
reducing average daily water demand from 336 million to 256 million
gallons per day (mgd). This allowed MWRA to defer a water supply
expansion project and reduce the capacity of the treatment plant,
resulting in total savings ranging from $1.39 million to $1.91 million
per mgd.
For additional case studies, visit WaterSense
Partner Profiles.
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