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Water Conservation Tools For Local Governments And Citizens Georgia Department of Community Affairs Office of Environmental Management

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Water Conservation Tools For Local Governments And Citizens Georgia Department of Community Affairs Office of Environmental Management. We Depend on Clean Water Daily!. 372 billion gallons/day in the U.S. 5.8 billion gallons/day in Georgia 2.7 billion gallons for: - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Water Conservation Tools For

Local Governments And Citizens

Georgia Department of Community AffairsOffice of Environmental Management

Page 2: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

We Depend on Clean Water Daily!

• 372 billion gallons/day in the U.S.

• 5.8 billion gallons/day in Georgia– 2.7 billion gallons for:

• public supply and private wells (47%)

• agriculture (28%)

• industrial activities (25%)

– 3.1 billion gallons for: • electric power generation

Page 3: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

How Much Water Does One Person Need?

Every day, the average American uses from 100-150 gallons of water.

Residential Water Use

6.80%

58.70%

8.70%

10.80%

5.50%

6.30%

1.00%

0.60%

0.70%

0.90%

Toilet

ClotheswasherShower

Faucet

OtherdomesticBath

Dishwasher

Leak

Unknown

Outdoor

Page 4: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Georgia Water Sources

• 80% of our water comes from surface water and 20% comes from ground water withdrawals.

• In the Atlanta region, 85% comes from surface water withdrawals with more than half originating from the Chattahoochee River.

Page 5: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Population Growth in Georgia

3.453.94

4.59

5.46

6.48

8.19

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Census year

To

tal

po

pu

lati

on

(m

illi

on

s)

Series1

Page 6: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

• Continuing growth, development and population increases in many areas are straining existing water supplies

• Local governments and adjacent states are competing for available water sources

• Indoor and outdoor water conservation is not widely practiced in Georgia

• Conserved water is the cheapest supply!

A Water Crisis ?

Page 7: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Nature’s Boundaries

Georgia Department of Community Affairs

Page 8: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Watershed Protection Provides:

• A comprehensive land use planning and implementation process to protect rivers, streams, lakes and other waters;

• A process to address the disruption of the natural drainage flows caused by development; and

• A method to address wastewater discharges, storm water runoff, nonpoint sources of pollution, and water conservation

Page 9: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Water Issues Vary

• North Georgia is concerned with surface water availability for continued growth and development

• Coastal and Southeast Georgia are affected by growth and by salt water intrusion into the aquifers

• Southwest Georgia is concerned with agricultural withdrawals and ground and surface water issues

• Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa (ACT) and Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) river basins are the focus of the tri-state “Water Wars”

Page 10: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

WATER STRESSES:Conflicts over Shared Water Resources

• Downstream states are concerned with impacts of future water demands in Georgia.

• Competing water needs create conflict over management of federal reservoirs.

• Interstate agreements would restrict future water allocations in portions of Georgia.Ga EPD

Page 11: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!
Page 12: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Drought in Georgia

• Georgia’s most recent drought lasted from 1998 through 2002

• Equivalent loss of a year’s worth of rain in first three years’ rainfall

• Surface water flows were greatly reduced• Reservoir storage was depleted• Groundwater was lowered, wells dried up• Soil moisture was low, crops were affected

“State must develop a comprehensive water conservation plan” -EPD Drought Report

Page 13: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Critical and Watch Municipal Water Supplies – August 2000

Orange: Critical cities and counties – less than one month’s drinking water supply availableYellow: Watch cities and counties – more than one month’s supply, but verging on critical levels

Source: EPD Drought Report

Page 14: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Drought in Georgia Web Site

http://www.georgiadrought.org

Page 15: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

1998-2000 Drought Report Recommended

• Water Conservation - State must develop comprehensive water conservation plan

• Emergency Relief - State should provide emergency grants and loans to assist local governments

• Water Supply - State must fund the implementation of the Water Supply Act of 1989 to build regional reservoirs

Page 16: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

1998-2000 Drought Report Recommended

• Agricultural Water Use - State must develop an effective method to evaluate consumptive use of water for agricultural irrigation and implement a plan to reduce water use

• State Water Plan - State must perform a detailed review of existing water policy and laws and develop a comprehensive state water plan

Page 17: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

All Is Not Lost!Huge Gains Can Be Made

Through Conservation

Los Angeles, CA has maintained its water use at a constant level despite continued growth and development.

Georgia and the Atlanta Metro Area can do the same!

Page 18: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Water ConservationWhy Should We Do It?

(more reasons than a drought)

• Reduce personal and business water costs• Minimize the need for local governments to

fund expensive reservoirs, water treatment and wastewater plants, and pipeline projects

• Help maintain sufficient water in streams, rivers, lakes and estuaries for fishing, boating, swimming, protection of aquatic life and downstream users (we all live downstream!)

• More efficient irrigation means less polluted runoff into receiving waters

Page 19: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Water ConservationWhy Some Local Governments

Don’t Support It• Loss of revenue from water sales by the utility• Perception that a community is not prepared

for future growth and may therefore lose new residential, commercial and industrial development opportunities

• Backlash from citizens, businesses and industries adversely affected by water conservation measures and restrictions

Page 20: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Water ConservationWhy Some Individuals

Don’t Support It• Water is relatively cheap, even for heavy users• Have a large investment in lawn or landscaping• Do not believe that there is a water crisis when

there is no drought• Don’t care about the water needs of other

people

Page 21: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Water ConservationWhere Do We Start?

• Water has been cheap and plentiful. We need to stop taking it for granted!

• Adopt a watershed mentality-everyone has a need for clean water

• Even modest reductions by Georgia’s 8.2 million residents will result in big savings!

Page 22: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Water Conservation Focus Areas

• Residential and Business Indoor• Residential and Business Outdoor• Industrial and Commercial• Agricultural

Page 23: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District

• 16 counties in metro Atlanta area are working together to address wastewater, stormwater, water supply and conservation planning

• Goal is to protect the area’s rivers and streams and to ensure adequate water to meet future demands

www.northgeorgiawater.com

Page 24: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District

• Analyzed water resources and considered a wide variety of water conservation measures

• Recommended 11 conservation measures to be adopted by local governments in the MNGWPD area

• Estimated they can achieve an 11% reduction in 2030 water demand (136 million gallons per day), compared to no measures

• Measures should be of interest to cities and counties in other parts of the state

Page 25: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District

1. Establish conservation pricing by all District utilities

2. Enact legislation to require plumbing retrofits on home sales

3. Enact legislation to require low-flush urinals for new industrial, commercial and institutional buildings

The 11 recommended measures:

Page 26: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District

4. Enact legislation to require rain sensor shut-off switches on new irrigation systems

5. Require sub-unit water meters in new multi-family buildings

6. Assess and reduce water system leakage

7. Conduct residential water audits

8. Distribute low-flow retrofit kits to residential users

Page 27: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District

9. Conduct commercial water audits

10. Implement an education and public awareness plan

11. Establish review and oversight of water conservation implementation and performance

Page 28: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Basic components of a water conserving community

What you should be doing:

– Economize through behavioral changes and leak repair

– Install water saving devices

– Reuse water

– Practice water conservation with outside watering

– Observe water restrictions

What your local government can/should be doing:

– Educating users and then enforcing water restrictions

– Promoting installation of water saving devices (rebates, free kits and home/business water audits)

– Implementing changes in its own System Management

Page 29: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

DCA Water Conservation Brochure

Large quantities of the brochure can be ordered by calling Joe Dunlop at 404-679-1598. You may also view or download the brochure at http://www.dca.state.ga.us/environmental/watersavebrochure.html

Page 30: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Ways to Economize

• Turn off the tap when brushing teeth, washing face, or shaving

• Take shorter showers or reduce the flow• Use the minimum amount of bath water• Wash full loads of dishes or clothes or use proper

load setting• Repair any leaks in faucets or toilets. Special dye

tablets or food coloring in the toilet tank can be used to detect leaking flapper valve.

Page 31: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Ways to Economize

• Minimize the use of kitchen sink disposals, try home composting instead!

• Store drinking water in the refrigerator to avoid running water for a cool drink

• Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Thaw overnight in refrigerator

• When washing dishes by hand fill one sink with soapy water and rinse with slow stream of water from faucet.

Page 32: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Install Water Saving Devices

• When buying new appliances, look for water saving features such as load size selectors for washing machines and selectable wash cycles for dishwashers

• If you don’t have them, install low-flow toilets to save up to 5.5 gallons of water with each flush. Ultra low-flow toilets (1.6 gpf) are required for new construction or remodeling in Georgia, and nationwide

Page 33: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Install Water Saving Devices

• Install faucet aerators to significantly reduce water use (.8 gpm savings~$2.00)

• Install low-flow showerheads or flow regulators in your existing shower (1.25 gpm savings~$5.00)

• Install water displacement devices such as milk jugs, bags or dams in toilet tanks (up to 2.5 gpf~$0.59 or $4.00)

• Install fill cycle diverters to redirect refill water into the tank. (.5-1.0 gpf~$0.50)

Page 34: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Reuse Water

• Unused or slightly used water (gray water) is often suitable for other uses, but local restrictions may apply.

• Make the most of any water before you let it go down the drain

• Air conditioner and dehumidifier condensate water can be collected or redirected to water outside plants

• Rainwater can be captured in rain barrels or tanks

Page 35: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Outdoor Watering

• Use a hose nozzle for watering and car washing• Use a rain gauge to determine how much rain and

irrigation your lawn and landscape receives, to avoid over-watering (about 1” per week needed)

• Position sprinklers so water does not land on street, sidewalk or driveway

• Water lawns between 9pm and 9am to minimize loss to evaporation

• Check operation of automated irrigation systems and avoid watering when rain is expected

• Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses, not sprinklers, for garden and landscape plants

Page 36: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Outdoor WateringHome water meters for hoses and shower heads are now available at http://www.h2owatch.net

Page 37: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Outdoor Watering• Do not hose down your sidewalk or driveway;

use a broom or leaf blower• Check hoses for splits and leaky connections• Avoid water features unless water is recycled• If you have a pool, consider a new water-saving

pool filter. A single backflushing with conventional filter uses 180 to 250 gallons

• Wash your car on the grass, turning off water except when necessary, or use a commercial car wash. This will also avoid runoff pollution into storm drains and streams

Page 38: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Outdoor Watering

Average residential water use increases 30% to 50% during the summer months due to outdoor watering

Xeriscaping is quality landscaping that conserves water and protects the environment, without sacrificing the beauty of your yard

A Georgia Xeriscape Guide is available online at:http://www.ces.uga.edu/pubcd/B1073.htm

Page 39: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Outdoor Watering

Xeriscaping: 7 Steps for Water Efficient Landscapes

•Proper planning and design with low, medium and high water-use zones, sufficient shade areas and desirable plant types

•Soil analysis and improvement

•Selection of appropriate plants adapted to site and water needs

•Practical turf areas for recreation, aesthetics or erosion control

•Efficient irrigation to prevent runoff and reduce evaporative loss

•Use of mulches to hold moisture and minimize maintenance

•Appropriate maintenance to discourage new growth and avoid plant stress

Page 40: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Other Ideas

• Look for water conservation initiatives

in your area and help promote them

• Support teaching of the EPA Water Sourcebook Series in schools, as promoted by the Georgia Water Wise Council, or other water education tools

• Patronize businesses that practice and promote water conservation

Page 41: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Getting The Word Out

• Community and special websites• Public service announcements (PSAs) on

radio and television stations• Newpaper notices and articles• Public meetings and presentations• Brochures and other handouts• Mailouts in water bills • Door Hangers

Page 42: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Changes in System Management for Local Governments

• Incentive-based Pricing (increase price with demand, summer surcharges, etc.)

• Universal Metering (a meter for each unit in an apartment or housing complex, for example)

• Pressure Management• Water Accounting and Loss Control (<10% loss)• Water-Use Regulation, i.e. restrictions• Use of reclaimed wastewater for golf courses, etc.

The Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P2AD) can lend technical assistance in these areas and with industrial and commercial water conservation. Judy Adler (404) 657-7444

Page 43: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Agricultural Conservation

• Improve EPD’s agricultural water withdrawal permitting system (21,000 permits now)

• Start measuring farm water use with meters (HB 579)

• More efficient irrigation (improved sprinklers, soil moisture sensors, water use audits, etc.)

• Drip irrigation systems

Page 44: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

State ActionsWater Restrictions

When water restrictions are in effect:

• EPD's intent is to curtail water use by residential and business water users

• Local water utilities may expand the restrictions

For the current water restrictions in Georgia:

• check out http://www.georgiadrought.org/

• or call EPD at (404) 657-5947, (888) 373-5947 (outside Atlanta)

Stop!

Page 45: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

State Actions

• Water Conservation Plans are required from local government and industrial water users that have groundwater or surface water withdrawal permits or permit modifications, except agriculture

• EPD prohibits use of water from a regional reservoir until the local government has demonstrated an effective water conservation program, including water conservation pricing.

• DNR has created a new Water Conservation Coordinator position to coordinate efforts and expedite action on state-wide drought management and water conservation plans

Page 46: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Ga Government Web Sites• Department of Community Affairs (DCA)

Provides resources and technical assistance to local governments and Keep America Beautiful Affiliates that want to promote water conservation among residents: (404) 679-4940, http://www.dca.state.ga.us/environmental/

• Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P2AD)Assists industrial, commercial and institutional water users with their water efficiency efforts: (404) 651-5120, http://www.p2ad.org

• Environmental Protection Division (EPD)Regulates water use among the various water consumers in the state, including water conservation plans and withdrawal permits: (404) 657-5847, http://www.georgianet.org/dnr/environ/

• DNR Water Conservation ProgramPlans and coordinates water conservation efforts statewide:http://www.conservewatergeorgia.net/

Page 47: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

More Useful Web Sites• Drought in Georgia web site

– http://www.georgiadrought.org/

• Georgia Water Wise Council– Provides information on xeriscaping, water efficiency,

Water Sourcebook, and more: http://www.gwwc.org/

• Water Conservation Devices– Niagara Conservation: http://

www.niagaraconservation.com/ – NRG Savers: http://www.nrgsavers.com/products.htm

• 100 Water Saving Tips– Water Use It Wisely: http://wateruseitwisely.com/

Page 48: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

More Useful Web SitesWater Conserving Communities in Georgia– Chatham County/Savannah Water Efficiency Program:

http://www.thempc.com/waterresources/– Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority: http://

www.watersmart.net/ – Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District

(requires water conservation measures in Atlanta area): http://northgeorgiawater.com

Other States– California Urban Water Conservation Council: http://

www.cuwcc.org/– Crescenta Valley Water District toilet rebate program:

http://www.cvwd.com/pages/sites.htm– City of Albuquerque: http://

www.cabq.gov/waterconservation/insert.html

Page 49: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Water Resources Toolkit for Local Governments CD

Now available online!www.dca.state.ga.us/environmental/

Tools for Protecting Georgia’s Water Resources

Current regulatory, educational and decision support information on numerous water topics, including water conservation and drought management.Contains hundreds of items, including summary sheets, reference lists, guidance documents, brochures, PowerPoint presentations, videos, Web sites, maps, and much more…

Page 50: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

A convenient User’s Menu will open when you insert the CD

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Each topic tab on the left contains numerous resources

Page 52: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

This Excel spreadsheet calculates estimated savings from various water conservation devices and programs

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ArcExplorer Watersheds of Georgia CDs

Tools for Protecting Georgia’s Water Resources

This set of two CDs contains Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping data for all of Georgia’s 52 Large Watersheds, with 18 useful data layers, instructions on loading and using the GIS data viewer, and more...

Page 54: We Depend on  Clean Water Daily!

Acknowledgements

This presentation was prepared by the Georgia This presentation was prepared by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, using Department of Community Affairs, using information available from the US Environmental information available from the US Environmental Protection Agency, Georgia DNR Environmental Protection Agency, Georgia DNR Environmental Protection Division and Pollution Prevention Protection Division and Pollution Prevention Assistance Division, UGA College of Agriculture Assistance Division, UGA College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Georgia Water Wise and Environmental Sciences, Georgia Water Wise Council, and Niagara Conservation Co.Council, and Niagara Conservation Co.