Municipal/Industry
Governments and businesses have a responsibility to care for local natural resources. At the community level, water supply is generally maintained or increased by developing new water sources or decreasing the demand for water. Below you will find information on potential management and conservation strategies that can help protect valuable municipal and industrial water supplies.
Monitoring and Enhancing Existing Water Supplies
In terms of water supply, communities rely on a range of surface and ground water sources to meet their needs. It is essential for communities to continually monitor these sources and have a contingency plan in place in case of water shortages caused by drought, pump failure, contamination, or an increase in usage. In Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services monitors community water supplies and development projects. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment also have similar programs.
The United States Department of Agriculture offers grants to assist rural areas and communities with populations not in excess of 10,000 in developing water and waste disposal systems. They also offer Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants to rural communities that have experienced a significant decline in quantity or quality of drinking water.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) houses a variety of information relating to source water, management assistance and financial help for small public water systems. These resources discuss basic information about source water, local protection measures, loan and grant links, preventive maintenance guidance, long-term planning information and much more.
Graywater Reuse
Although communities often require building new infrastructure, such as wells and reservoirs, to increase water supplies for growing needs, other strategies are also possible, such as the reuse of water. The California Building Standards Commission defines graywater as “untreated wastewater that has not been contaminated by any toilet discharge, has not been affected by infectious, contaminated, or unhealthy bodily wastes and does not present a threat from contamination by unhealthful processing, manufacturing, or operating wastes.” Wastewater from bathtubs, showers, bathroom sinks and washing machines are all examples of graywater. A report published by the American Water Works Association discusses graywater uses, treatments, pros and cons and is a good source to learn more about graywater reuse and other issues related to it.
Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting systems are a great example of collecting and reusing wastewater. These systems collect rainwater from rooftops and other surfaces, allowing that water to be used for watering gardens and plants. According to RainXchange one inch of rainfall on a 2,000 square foot residential roof generates 1,250 gallons of water that can be reused. That statistic is likely one of the reasons that the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority in New Mexico requires the installation of rainwater harvesting systems on all new homes. The City of Lincoln, Nebraska, recently conducted a rain barrel painting contest to promote the use of rainwater harvesting.
Aquifer Recharging
Natural aquifer recharge has been ongoing for millennia in the Great Plains. Prior to development, prairie potholes and playa lakes in the region were the primary source of recharge to the High Plains and other local aquifers. Incidental recharge also takes place through canal leakage in the area causing the groundwater mound in central Nebraska. Since groundwater is being utilized at such a high rate intentional recharging of aquifers is now a more common practice to store water underground for times of need. It is increasingly common to see this type of water management practice in California and Texas but Wichita, Kansas also has a very large recharge project called the Equus Beds Groundwater Recharge Project.
A useful international resource is a publication titled Management of Aquifer Recharge and Subsurface Storage from the Netherlands National Committee-International Association of Hydrogeologists.
Low Impact Development
City and county entities that are associated with the development of residential areas could also consider encouraging developers to investigate the possibilities of Low Impact Development (LID). LID allows natural systems to manage stormwater when possible. A shift in the way of thinking needs to take place before developers will integrate this concept into the mainstream of stormwater engineering and management. Stormwater management is usually associated with stormwater disposal but the concept of LID considers stormwater as a resource, not a liability.
Water Demand Reduction
Conservation is key when decreasing the demand for water. Knutson (2008) states that technological fixes and behavioral changes can reduce water usage. Technological fixes include water saving practices such as fixing leaks in the system, monitoring and management programs, water audits and rebates for efficient fixtures. Behavioral changes are simple for people to incorporate into everyday life. Taking shorter showers, shutting off the water while brushing teeth and not letting the tap run to get cooler water are a few small changes one could make that would help to conserve water.
Leak Detection Programs
According to the National Drinking Water Clearinghouse, a 10-20% allowance for unaccounted-for-water is normal for community systems. Losses have been reported to be much higher for some cities. These losses could be from unauthorized users, leaks, malfunctioning meters, etc., and result in reduced water availability and economic losses to the utility. Leak detection programs and system efficiency improvements can offset the need for new water sources. They have put together a fact sheet discussing leak and water loss issues.
For information and training on maintaining water systems visit the American Water Works Association and the National Rural Water Association (NRWA). The NRWA is a non-profit federation of the State Rural Water Association and is supported by their water and wastewater utility membership. Each state association provides training programs and on-site assistance in areas of operation, maintenance, finance and governance.
Water Efficient Technologies
Promoting water-efficient technologies in local industries and residences can significantly reduce local water demands. In some locations, these technologies are mandated by local authorities. In others, programs provide cost-shares and other economic incentives to help promote the installation of water efficient technologies.
People are beginning to develop other unique ways to reduce the amount of water that they use in businesses and everyday lives. Water World, a Denver water park, has stopped putting ice cubes in drinks, saving them an estimated 30,000 gallons of water per year.
Community planners can also encouraging simple techniques like low flow toilets in public facilities, fountains running on re-circulated water, planting native plants and placing automatic water gauges on municipal and industrial properties. These are just a few simple ways that municipalities and industries can make an impact. Check out these links to find information that can be used in businesses and communities to reduce water use.
Xeriscaping
Xeriscaping is a type of landscaping around homes and businesses that uses a limited amount of water. If you've ever been to Arizona, you've probably noticed that instead of grass lawns, many people cover their yards with decorative rocks and low water use plants. These lawns use little or no water but are still attractive. Many people across the country are using this technique to reduce their water use. You can still plant grass, shrubs, and trees using the xeriscaping method. The key is to use only as much water as the plants need, and to choose landscaping designs and plants that make the best use of available rainfall.
Photo courtesy of Colorado Water Wise
Public Information Campaigns
It's always a good idea to promote efficient water use. At certain times, such as during drought, it may also be necessary to have people reduce their water use to ensure enough water for all users. According to the California Department of Water Resources (2008), public information campaigns have been shown to reduce water use by 5-20%. Those percentages vary based on the time, money and effort made. Lincoln, Nebraska’s, Mayor’s Water Conservation Task Force is an example of how public campaigns can work. This site discusses conservation techniques, provides links to other helpful water resources and updates residents on local water-related events. As another local example, during the drought of 2002, voluntary water restriction programs were shown to reduce water use by 4-12% in communities along the Front Range of Colorado. Mandatory water restrictions reduced use by 18-56% (Kenney et al., 2004).
Water Pollution
Water pollution can also affect the availability of water. Therefore, many communities have implemented source water protection zones. The Department of Environmental Quality in Nebraska has a statewide Wellhead Protection Program that assists communities and public water suppliers in preventing contamination of their water supplies. Their activities include training, working with local officials to manage pollution sources, monitoring plans and helping to develop plans for new sites. In Kansas you can find similar information at the Kansas Source Water Assessment Program site and in Colorado the Department of Public Health and Environment houses information on their program.
During drought and flooding, the quality of well and surface water can be diminished, affecting people and the environment. Monitoring may need to be increased during these events to ensure water quality standards are met. Those people using private wells may be especially vulnerable, and require water testing and treatment assistance.
Local agencies and landowners are also responsible for the management of lakes, streams, and ponds. Blue-green algae can develop in lakes and ponds during times of drought. This algae has been related to livestock death and can generate a number of unpleasant symptoms in humans. Following practices that can be utilized to protect the water quality of those areas may reduce health risks.
References Cited
Knutson, C. (2008). Managing Water Stress, Drought, and Climate Change in the 21st Century. University of Nebraska - Lincoln. pp. 7-9
Sheikh, B. (2010). White Paper on Graywater. American Water Works Association.