State Water Efficiency and Conservation Policy Information

In 2011 and 2012 the Alliance for Water Efficiency gathered data to update its State Information pages.  The new information was generated via an updated survey and was used as the basis for the Water Efficiency and Conservation State Scorecard report.  Below are links to each of the state summary pages, which include any pertinent information for each of the survey questions.  The survey questions are listed below the map, and include names of states with strong examples.

1. What state agency or agencies are in charge of drinking water conservation/efficiency? 
2. Does the state have a water consumption regulation for toilets that is more stringent than the federal standard?  (California, Texas, and Georgia) 
3. Does the state have a water consumption regulation for showerheads that is more stringent than the federal standard?  (No states currently have such a standard.) 
4. Does the state have a water consumption regulation for urinals that is more stringent than the federal standard?  (California, Texas, and Georgia) 
5. Does the state have a water consumption regulation for clothes washers that is more stringent than the federal standard?  (No states currently have such a standard.) 
6. Does the state have a water consumption regulation for pre-rinse spray valves that is more stringent than the federal standard?  (No states currently have such a standard.) 
7. Does the state have mandatory building or plumbing codes requiring water efficient products that exceed the federal standard?  (Texas and Georgia) 
8. Does the state have any regulations or policies for water utilities regarding water loss in the utility distribution system?  (New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Washington have strong laws that require corrective action, but they use outdated audit methodologies.  Tennessee, Texas, and Georgia utilize cutting edge audit methods but lack strong law requiring corrective action.  Ideally a state will have strong laws and utilize the industry standard water audit methods.) 
9. Does the state require conservation activities as part of its water permitting process or water right permit?  (There are many examples. California, Massachusetts, and Georgia are standouts.) 
10. Does the state require preparation of drought emergency plans by water utilities or cities on any prescribed schedule?  (There are many examples. Arizona and Texas are standouts.) 
11. Does the state have a mandatory planning requirement for potable water conservation/efficiency separate from drought emergency plans?  (Many states require conservation plans.  California, Colorado, Rhode Island, Utah, Washington provide excellent examples.) 
12. Does the state have the authority to approve or reject the conservation plans?  (25 states have some authority written in law to approve or reject conservation plans.  Connecticut, Colorado, Kentucky, and Virginia are standouts.) 
13. How often does the state require the water utilities to submit a potable water conservation plan (not part of a drought emergency plan)?  (Texas, Massachusetts, and South Carolina have notable update requirements.) 
14. If the state has a mandatory planning requirement for potable water conservation separate from drought emergency plans, is there a framework or prescribed methodology?  (Many examples, but California and Texas have particularly robust mandatory planning requirements.) 
15. Does the state require water utilities to implement conservation measures, beyond just the preparation and submittal of plans?  (California, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Texas are standouts.) 
16. Does the state offer financial assistance to utilities, cities, or counties for urban water conservation programs such as a revolving loan fund? Grants?  Bonds?  Appropriations? (Many great examples.  Colorado, Oregon, and North Carolina are strong.) 
17. Does the state offer technical assistance for urban water conservation programs?  (Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin are all great examples.) 
18. Does the state require volumetric billing?  (California, Minnesota, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Texas, and Wisconsin require volumetric billing.  Minnesota and New Jersey go a step further and incorporate conservation pricing in their legal language.) 
19. What percentage or number of publicly supplied water connections (residential and nonresidential) are metered in your state?  (This question was thrown out due a lack of citable data.  No examples.) 
20. Does the state provide statewide ET microclimate information for urban landscapes?  (New Mexico, California, Florida, North Carolina, and Utah are all strong examples.) 

Resources

Full report: The Water Efficiency and Conservation State Scorecard: An Assessment of Laws and Policies (PDF)

Public Comments Appendix for the The Water Efficiency and Conservation State Scorecard: An Assessment of Laws and Policies (PDF) 

September 12, 2012 AWE & ELI Scorecard Webinar Recording 

A limited number of hardcopies are available for purchase. Email AWE to order your full-color, saddle-stitched copy today for the low price of $20/each plus s/h.

EcoHome Magazine Vision 2020 Article on the AWE/ELI Water Efficiency and Conservation State Scorecard Report (PDF)

Environmental Law Institute (2014) Five Things to Consider When Developing and Adapting Water Policies and Programs in the West (PDF)