Presented at 2006 AWPCA conferece. Comparison of water uses and conservation techniques across the globe.

1. Down the Drain: Where is
Down the Drain: Where is
our Water going?
our Water going?
AWPCA Annual Conference
May 3, 2006
May 3, 2006
Brandon Squire, PE
&
Douglas Patriquin, LEED AP
AWPCA Annual Conference Down the Drain: Where is our
May 3, 2006 water going?

2. Natural Desert Environment
AWPCA Annual Conference Down the Drain: Where is our
May 3, 2006 water going?

3. Developed Desert Oasis
AWPCA Annual Conference Down the Drain: Where is our
May 3, 2006 water going?

4. Developed Desert Environment
AWPCA Annual Conference Down the Drain: Where is our
May 3, 2006 water going?

5. Human Needs
■ How much water does a human need to
survive?
1.5 gallons per day to survive
13 gallons total for drinking,
cooking, bathing and sanitation
AWPCA Annual Conference Down the Drain: Where is our
May 3, 2006 water going?

6. International Water Usage
■ Australia – 92 gpcd
■ Canada – 79 gpcd
■ United Kingdom – 35 gpcd
■ Germany – 28 gpcd
■ Netherlands – 27 gpcd
■ India – 8 gpcd
■ Kenya – 3.5 gpcd
■ Gambia – 1.2 gpcd
AWPCA Annual Conference Down the Drain: Where is our
May 3, 2006 water going?

7. National Water Usage
■ Nevada – 300 gpcd
■ Dayton, Wyoming – 250 gpcd
■ California – 228 gpcd
■ Albuquerque, NM – 205 gpcd
■ New York (United Water) – 167 gpcd
■ Tampa, FL – 104 gpcd
■ Goleta, CA – 90 gpcd
AWPCA Annual Conference Down the Drain: Where is our
May 3, 2006 water going?

8. National Water Usage
AWPCA Annual Conference Down the Drain: Where is our
May 3, 2006 water going?

9. Local Water Usage
Design Standards
■ Phoenix – 220 gpcd
■ Mesa – 160 gpcd
■ Buckeye – 150 gpcd
■ Goodyear – 148 gpcd
■ Tucson – 110 gpcd
■ Scottsdale – 78 gpcd
AWPCA Annual Conference Down the Drain: Where is our
May 3, 2006 water going?

10. Breakdown of Uses
United Kingdom
Study Site % Indoor % Outdoor
Boulder, CO 42.80% 57.20%
Denver, CO 40.30% 59.70%
Eugene, OR 59.20% 40.80%
Las Virgenes, CA 23.80% 76.20%
Lompoc, CA 61.10% 38.90%
Phoenix, AZ 41.30% 58.70%
San Diego, CA 37.20% 62.80%
Scottsdale/Tempe, AZ 33.50% 66.50%
Seattle, WA 61.80% 38.20%
Tampa, FL 54.50% 45.50%
Walnut, CA 36.10% 63.90%
Average 41.90% 58.10%
AWPCA Annual Conference Down the Drain: Where is our
May 3, 2006 water going?

11. Breakdown of Uses
in the home
AWPCA Annual Conference Down the Drain: Where is our
May 3, 2006 water going?

12. Rating the Average User
Gallons/Person/Day Rating
100 Very Heavy
75 Heavy
60 Average
45 Conservative
30 Very Conservative
AWPCA Annual Conference Down the Drain: Where is our
May 3, 2006 water going?

13. U.S. Government
Energy Policy Act
■ 1992 Public Law 102-486
- Faucets/sinks – 2.5 gpm
- Toilets – 1.6 gpf
- Urinals – 1.0 gpf
- All at 80 psi
■ Developed in 1992
- Set into motion Jan. 1 1994
AWPCA Annual Conference Down the Drain: Where is our
May 3, 2006 water going?

14. Phoenix Metro Conservation
■ Phoenix – No rebate programs
– Irrigation & Landscape workshops @ Botanical
Gardens
– (WET) Water Education for Teachers K-12
■ Scottsdale
– Turf removal rebate ($3,000)
– Irrigation controller, Hot water recirculation, Toilets,
Shower heads
■ Glendale
– Turf removal Rebate ($750)
– Monthly Landscape classes (Glendale Library)
– Free K-5 Education assemblies w/ “Rattlesnake the
Story Teller”
AWPCA Annual Conference Down the Drain: Where is our
May 3, 2006 water going?

15. Phoenix Metro Conservation
■ Mesa
– Landscape rebate ($200)
– Water “Deeply and Infrequently”
– Elementary Classroom Education
■ Tempe
– Turf removal ($500)
– Toilet replacement
– Industrial/commercial incentives
up to $20,000 based on 25-50%
of cost
AWPCA Annual Conference Down the Drain: Where is our
May 3, 2006 water going?

16. Other Arizona Cities
■ Flagstaff
– Landscape rabate ($500)
– Dual flush toilet/waterless urinal rebate
($100)
– Clothes washer rebate ($100)
– Specified watering days – fines imposed
– Summer watering time restriction (9am –
5pm)
■ Tucson
– Water$mart workshops
– Zanjero Program
– Tiered Residential Schedule
AWPCA Annual Conference Down the Drain: Where is our
May 3, 2006 water going?

17. Other Programs
■ Albuquerque
– Xeriscape ($5,000), Toilet Rebate
– Washer, Hot water recirculation, Sprinkler timer
– Summer watering time restriction (10am – 6pm)
– Per capita water use from 250 to 174 gpd in 10 years
– No more than 20% high water use plants for new landscaping
■ Seattle
– Washer, Sprinkler system and Timer Rebates
– “Water You Doing” – Video w/ Bill Nye and others
■ San Diego
– Washer, Toilet, Timer, Install Free Kitchen Sprayers
– Plumbing Retrofit Program
– Residential water Survey
– Guaranteed Water Program
AWPCA Annual Conference Down the Drain: Where is our
May 3, 2006 water going?

18. Other Programs
■ Cary, NC
– “Beat the Peak”
– “Tuna Can Plan”
– Alternate watering Days (up to $500 fines)
– Required Rain sensors (up to $400)
■ Boston Area
– MWRA
– “Watersense” – Provides free shower heads, tank
dams, aerators & dye tabs
■ Australia
– Pool Covers, Washers, Rain Sensors, Sub-surface
irrigation piping
– Current restrictions in Sydney include
• No Sprinklers for watering lawns
• No car washing
• Permit required to fill pool
AWPCA Annual Conference Down the Drain: Where is our
May 3, 2006 water going?

19. What are people paying?
Potable Water Rates Per 1000 gallons on 5/8” meter
Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3
PHX $1.03 $1.39* Seattle $3.85 $4.48 $11.43
Scottsdale $1.42 $2.58 $3.35 San Diego $2.21 $2.77 $3.03
Glendale $1.27 Cary, NC $3.28 $3.75 $5.33
Mesa $1.94 $2.91 Boston $4.33 $4.53 $4.72
Flagstaff $2.83 $3.32 $4.71 Sydney $2.91
Tucson $1.38 $4.81 $6.75 Bangkok $0.85 $1.00 $1.04
*Averaged varying seasonal monthly charge
AWPCA Annual Conference Down the Drain: Where is our
May 3, 2006 water going?

20. What Can We Do?
■ Tiered rate schedule
– Discounts for excess conservation over recommended
■ Additional rebate programs
– Pool covers
– Washing machines
■ “Beat the Peak” programs
– Set Watering hours - Impose Fines
■ EDUCATION
– Funded by excessive use penalties
■ Grey Water
■ PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
AWPCA Annual Conference Down the Drain: Where is our
May 3, 2006 water going?

21. What Can We Do?
Question
&
Answer
AWPCA Annual Conference Down the Drain: Where is our
May 3, 2006 water going?