Mayors Water Council

Newsletter of the Mayors Water Council of The United States Conference of Mayors

Winter 2008

AMERICAN RIVERS from page 8

Liebold, who runs the city's water conservation program, and

the city netted $200 million in savings by avoiding water sup-

Cities can use water more efficiently by:

ply and wastewater infrastructure expansion.

1.  Adopting industry performance standards and best practices

Seattle's program to reduce annual water demand by one

for metering, conservation rate structures, water budgets, and

percent each year over the next twenty years will allow it to

leak detection and repair.

freeze total demand at 1999 levels, despite robust population

2. Implementing incentive programs for water-saving fixtures

and economic growth. Seattle has long been a leader in using

and appliances in homes and businesses.

education, conservation rate structures, and incentive programs

3.  Enacting building codes and landscape ordinances for water

to reduce household and business water use. Yet, the public util-

efficiency.

ity's analysis shows that it can still wring more reductions from

New York City and Seattle are two success stories when it

efficiency at a lower cost than developing new supplies.

comes to efficient water use. In the mid-1990s, New York elimi-

Climate change is an unfortunate reality of our time, but cit-

nated unmetered service connections; adopted plumbing effi-

ies that work with nature will come out ahead. They will spend

ciency standards; stepped up leak detection and repair; and

less, be better prepared, have a healthier environment, and

invested in a $300 million customer rebate program to replace

remain the most attractive places to live and work.

1.3 million toilets with low-flow models. The City's per capita

For more information, visit www.AmericanRivers.org

water consumption declined by 34%, according to Warren

SUMMIT from page 12

Grant and Program Coordinator joined Brian Loughmiller, City

Councilman, to describe the partnership.

dict leakage points. Pipe repair and replacement efforts can be

Councilman Loughmiller stated that McKinney created the

better targeted to prevent water loss. This, in turn, improves the

partnership because they wanted scientifically-proven solutions

utility's revenue stream while conserving water. This effort has

that could be shared with residential and commercial property

brought Irvington's water infrastructure in line with its 6 Guiding

owners to help conserve water as the city continues to grow.

Principles to support urban redevelopment, but also put it in the

Wolfe elaborated that Urban Solutions can help McKinney

forefront of water conservation in the nation.

integrate the types of drought-resistant plants and grasses that

The City of McKinney (TX): is the second fastest growing city

can reduce water consumption for outdoor uses- a major con-

in the nation with 100,000 people in 2005, and projected to

sumption sector. Together, the partnership has outlined a six-

be 350,000 over the next few decades. McKinney has been

year plan that includes science based options for conserving

plagued with a seven year drought that has triggered irriga-

local water, educational programs to help citizens save water

tion restrictions and tiered rates to discourage volume water

quantity and quality. During the program's first 12 ­ 18 months

consumption. Mayor Bill Whitfield has created a water conser-

participants will customize and transfer "how-to" educational

vation partnership between the city and the Urban Solutions

programs about water conservation and landscape manage-

Center in Dallas that is affiliated with Texas A&M University.

ment targeting adults and homeowners through television,

Frank Gilstrap, Resident Director of Research and Clint Wolf,

radio spots, web sites and distribution of CDs.

Attention--Liquid Assets

Produced by Penn State Public Broadcasting, "Liquid

Assets" includes a 90-minute national television documen-

"Liquid Assets" is a public education initiative on the US

tary scheduled to debut in Fall 2008. Toolkits and online

water infrastructure and its vital role in health and eco-

materials will be distributed to facilitate community meet-

nomic prosperity.

ings and local education. Visit www.liquidassets.psu.edu

<http://www.liquidassets.psu.edu> for a preview.

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