The Region's
Latest Conservation Efforts
Conservation has long been an ethic Northwesterners are proud of
espousing, endorsing and undertaking. Saving water is ingrained in
our daily habits, inside the home and in the yard. What began as an
extensive outreach campaign during periods of drought has become
second nature.
The result? Less water is being used – and that was the goal.
But in addition, growth in the Central Puget Sound region has slowed dramatically over the last 10 years.
Reduced growth coupled with the indisputable fact that consumers are using so much less water, (due to plumbing code changes, more efficient appliances, conservation, rate structures and education) has resulted in dramatic decreases in demand.
The members of the Water Supply Forum recently met to discuss what the lower demand means not only for rates, revenue and operations, but also for conservation programs region wide.
The Saving Water Partnership includes Seattle and 18 of its wholesale customers who invested more than $35 million and achieved 9.6 million gallons per day (mgd) in cumulative savings from 2000 through 2010. The Saving Water Partnership remains committed to long-term water use efficiency by their customers and a sustainable level of investment in water conservation. The priority is to ensure that conservation capacity, both industry partnerships and staff expertise, is available to deliver conservations programs that prepare