In this section you will find studies, conference presentations and link to organizations that provide information about water conservation and efficient use of water. Topics in this section include: consumptive and non-consumptive water use; efforts by water purveyors to use water efficiently; and best practices for business & industry, residential and agricultural water use.
Washington Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water. Water Use Efficiency. Water is a precious, limited resource. In the Pacific Northwest, drinking water for our growing population competes with other users that include agriculture, industry, recreation, and maintaining an adequate stream flow for fish. By working with public water systems to implement water use efficiency programs, we strive to ensure a safe and reliable supply of drinking water to meet current and future needs.
IDWR – Ground Water Conservation Grants. The Idaho Water Resource Board authorized the creation of a statewide ground water conservation grant program to provide financial assistance to municipalities and other eligible entities interested in pursuing projects that help reduce ground water demands. For more information, contact Neeley Miller at (208) 287-4831 or [email protected].
Ecology Water Conservation: It all starts with you. Water conservation, using water efficiently and avoiding waste, is essential to ensure that we have adequate water today and into the future. It is up to all of us to use the water we have wisely, and it is as simple as each of us making small changes. Make conserving water a daily part of your life. And remember when you save water, you save energy and money!
Spokane County Water Resources Conservation and Drought. The average person in Spokane County used 217 gallons of water per day in the year 2000. The Washington State average is 114 gallons per day (USGS, 2004). According to officials from the Department of Ecology and the Spokane Aquifer Joint Board almost all of the difference is in landscape watering. Water use triples during the summer months. The Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Bi-State Aquifer Study determined that water levels in the aquifer are not declining. So why the concern over summertime water use? The study also demonstrated the link between the aquifer and the Spokane River. Summer withdrawals from the aquifer result in lower flows in the Spokane River. The Department of Ecology reports that a 10% reduction of summer withdrawals from the aquifer would increase summer flows.
Kootenai Environmental Alliance Adrienne Cronebaugh, Idaho’s Water Needs to Be Sustainably Managed. Water is critical to all life on Earth. The beautiful rivers, lakes and clean drinking water are reasons many of us chose to make Northern Idaho home. Responsible planning and conservation of our water resources is essential as we move into a time of warming climates and growing populations. Idaho is finally placing an emphasis on the need for responsible stewardship of our water resources via a proposed Sustainability Policy in the Idaho State Water plan.
The Spokane Aquifer Joint Board (SAJB) is an organization of 19 public and private water providers who rely on the Spokane Valley Rathdrum Prairie (SVRP) Aquifer so they can supply you with clean safe drinking water. SAJB encourages water conservation but for residents and businesses living over the SVRP Aquifer it may be hard to see the benefits of water conservation. After all, the region has no watering restrictions and it seems like there will always be enough water. But the truth is that water conservation saves a lot more than just water! Besides the added benefit of ensuring future water supplies, using less water saves energy also reduces pollution and saves you money. Explore the SAJB Water Conservation pages to find hundreds of simple ways to conserve water and save money.
City of Spokane Slow the Flow Water Efficiency is the key to a Sustainable Future. Protecting and preserving our water resources is a long-term goal of the City and is part of our sustainability efforts. Using less water also translates into savings on utility bills. Water customers pay both a monthly base fee for water as well as a water consumption rate tied to the amount of water they use. Beginning in 2015, the City instituted a wastewater bill discount for the lowest 20% of indoor water users. View the City of Spokane Water Efficiency Plan
In Spokane, water use more than triples in the summer time so make sure you’re watering efficiently! The Spokane Water Department has resources available to help our customers reduce their water use and utility bills.
2016 – Water Efficiency and Conservation in Our Communities. Water conservation is part of the stewardship landscape for utilities, homeowners and organizations of all sizes. Motivations range from stabilizing utility bills, to protecting the aquifer and instream flows, to meeting the needs of a growing region. This session features on the ground actions and outreach to support water conservation being integrated into daily lives. Art Garro, City of Pullman and Nichole Baker, City of Moscow Conservation on the Palouse Think Regionally, Act Locally; Marlene Feist, City of Spokane, Protecting Our Water; Lindsay Chutas, Spokane Conservation District, Irrigation Efficiency Program ; Korey Woodley, Melanie Thornton, Maddie Gray, Jennifer Johnson and Kayla Wakulich, Washington State University, Bi-State Water Stewardship Messaging. Presented at the SRF Conference 3-23-16