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Water Conservation Toolbox: Programs for Water Suppliers

Water utilities across North America save considerable amounts of water through water-efficiency programs. Climate and water availability typically drive the aggressiveness of communities' water conservation programs, with more substantial efforts being made in the southwestern states and Florida. Although these areas may have more significant shortages and more aggressive water use reduction programs, the conservation principles applied there are applicable to all areas regardless of the climate.

Implementing a combination of programs tailored to your community's needs is the most effective way of reducing water use. To assist you in selecting water conservation programs, this Toolbox provides information in the following areas:

• Regulatory Programs
• Incentive Programs
• Education Programs
• Rate Structures
• Stormwater reuse

Implementation of these programs can shave peak use to avoid unnecessary capital expenditures, manage resources during emergencies, improve watering efficiency or reduce overall use.

See a how to guide to for initiating a water conservation program.

If you have questions or comments on water conservation programs please contact us by email at watersupply@metc.state.mn.us or by telephone at 651 602-1035.

See water conservation programs in use today throughout the metropolitan area.

Regulatory Programs

1. Soil preparation requirements

• Tips and Practices, Metropolitan Council
• Building Regulations: Lawn Requirements, Andover, MN
• Subdivision Code: Topsoil and Sodding, Prior Lake, MN
• Model Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance, City of Minneapolis, MN

2. Watering restrictions

• Tips and Practices, Metropolitan Council
• Watering Restrictions, City of Victoria, MN
• Watering Restrictions, City of Plymouth, MN

• Watering Policy, City of Woodbury, MN

• Minnesota rain sensor law
• Rain sensor, model ordinance
• Water Wasting Lawn Irrigation, model ordinance

3. Landscaping requirements

• Tips and Practices, Metropolitan Council
• Model Municipal Ordinance Encouraging the Use of Native Plant Communities as an Alternative in Urban Landscape Design, Wild Ones
• Water Efficient Irrigation and Landscape Ordinance, City of Tampa Bay, FL
• Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, City of Sarasota, FL
• A Guide to Developing a Community Tree Preservation Ordinance, Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee
• Limitations on Water Use for Landscaping in New Developments and Landscaping Renovations, San Francisco, CA
• Tree Ratio, model ordinance

4. Water using fixture retrofit

• Tips and Practices, Metropolitan Council
• Model Water Using Fixture Retrofit Ordinance, City of San Diego, CA
• Retrofit Upon Sale Ordinance, City of San Luis Obispo, CA 
• Retrofit Upon Sale Ordinance, City of Santa Monica, CA

5. Other Regulatory Programs

• Model Ordinances to Protect Local Resources, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Water Conservation Ordinances, City of Tucson, AZ

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Incentive Programs

Incentive programs can effectively encourage behavioral changes. For instance, a resident might be more apt to plant a garden with native plants or change a toilet if the materials are discounted.

1. Landscape rebates

• Tips and Practices, Metropolitan Council
• Rain Barrel Rebate Program, River Falls WI
• Rain Garden Cost-share Program, Rice Creek Watershed District
• Landscape Rebate Program, Southern Nevada Water Authority
• Irrigation Rebate Program, Victoria, BC

2. Water using fixture and/or appliance rebates

• Tips and Practices, Metropolitan Council
• Appliance Rebate Program, City of Eden Prairie, MN
• Water Management Rebate Program Model, Southwest Florida
• Toilet and Washing Machine Rebate Program, City of San Luis Obispo, CA 
• Fixture Rebate Program, Victoria, BC
• Smart Wash Rebate Program, Victoria, BC

3. Other rebate programs

• Rebate, Vouchers and Incentive Programs, American Water Works Association

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Education Programs

Evaluating the impact of water conservation education is difficult.  However, providing conservation messages on a regular basis through a variety of approaches (bill stuffers, newsletters, press releases, school outreach) helps to ensure the messages reach a large audience. Minnesota Statute 103G.291 requires that water suppliers have an education program as part of their conservation plan.

• Water: Use it wisely
• H2ouse
• WaterWiser
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Minnesota Native Plant Guide
• Kids Water Conservation Coloring Pages
• Water Conservation, Elk River, MN, Municipal Utilities
• Low Impact Lawn Care, University of Minnesota, Extension
• Canada, Water Saver Kits, City of Vancouver
• Model water conservation brochure
• Tips and Practices, Metropolitan Council
• Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Water Audits, Alburquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority
• Publicly Owned Treatment Works, Minnesota Technical Assistance Program, University of MN
• Groundwater Story, King County Groundwater Protection Program
• How to create a water conservation issues paper, Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association
• Low cost conservation programs for cities and public agencies, Minnestoa Nursery and Landscape Assocation

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Rate Structures

Minnesota Statutes, Section 103G.291 requires water suppliers to evaluate their rate structure as part of their conservation plan.

Conservation rate structures

• Increasing rates assign a single rate per unit of water use until a certain amount of water is used, then the rate per unit increases. For example, a community charges $1.50 per 1,000 gallons of water for 0 to 10,000 gallons, $2.00 per 1,000 gallons of water for 10,001 to 30,000, and $2.50 per 1,000 of water for greater than 30,000 gallons.
• Seasonal rates vary throughout the year, usually during peak outdoor water usage. Indoor water use is typically calculated during the winter. Usage above the average indoor use is charged a higher rate to discourage excessive water use. For example, during the winter months a community applies a uniform or increasing rate structure, and then between May and October it charges more per 1,000 gallons for any use over the average winter water use.

Conservation neutral rate structure

• Uniform rates assign a single rate per unit of water use. For example, a community charges $2.00 per 1,000 gallons of water, regardless of use.

Non-Conservation rate structures

• Flat rates assign a single price for water no matter how much is used. For example, $9.00 for any amount of water use.
• Decreasing rates assign a single rate per unit of water use until a certain amount of water is used, then the rate per unit decreases. For example,. $2.00 is charged per 1,000 gallons of water  for 0 to 10,000 gallons, $1.50 per 1,000 gallons for 10,001 to 30,000 gallons, and $1.00 per 1,000 gallons for more than 30,000 gallons.

 

Stormwater Reuse

Communities throughout the United States are using Stormwater as an alternative water source for irrigation. As the percent of impervious surface throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area increases, stormwater runoff increases impacting water quality. Harvesting rainwater and using retention ponds to capture stormwater runoff for subsequent use can reduce the impacts of urban runoff, while conserving our water resources.

• Retention and Irrigation, California Stormwater Quality Association
• Stormwater Reuse, University of Central Florida
• Stormwater Reuse: Issues, Australian Government Water Fund
• Stormwater as an Alternative Source of Water Supply: Feasibility and Implications for Watershed Management, University of Florida
• Lawn and Landscape Irrigation Systems, Medina City Code
• Rain Barrel Rebate Program, River Falls WI

 

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