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WATER CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENCY
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- RECOMMENDATION
- POLICY OPTION
- WASTEWATER RETURN DISCHARGE
- WATER REUSE OPTIONS
WATER CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENCYSoutheast Alabama continues to face threats to water supplies, such as stress from population growth and climate change. Local leaders and public water suppliers are challenged with the task of supplying clean, reliable water for current and future generations. In the past, building reservoirs was often the first choice of water utilities to develop additional water supplies, due to the apparent quick fix provided by creating large amounts of storage. Unfortunately, water supply reservoirs have significant negative environmental impacts on water quality and stream health and do not address the root problem of the need to use our limited water sources wisely. The elimination of flow makes the impounded area unsuitable habitat for native fluvial species and the physical, chemical and biological health of the downstream reaches may be greatly impacted due to numerous changes, including the alteration of sediment regime, water and food transport downstream, increased temperature and nutrients and low dissolved oxygen (USEPA, 2010). Not only do reservoirs cause disruption to the water cycle for the watershed and river basin, but they can also actually increase water loss due to evaporation and be very expensive to build in comparison to implementing water conservation and efficiency measures. Estimates are that dams and reservoirs can cost up to 8,500 times more than water efficiency measures (USEPA, 2010). For these reasons, building new dams should be the last alternative for solving water supply needs. To conserve water for future generations, water efficiency practices must be promoted in water resource management. The document “Hidden Reservoir” by American Rivers, Inc., published in October 2008, outlines several water efficiency policies that promote water conservation. An important practice in water conservation is to stop leaks. Aging infrastructure and broken pipes lose large quantities of water through leaks. It is estimated that in the United States, over 6 billion gallons of water (or 14% of total water use) are lost each day (American Rivers, Inc., 2008). To address this problem, water suppliers should reduce leaks to as close to zero as possible, conduct self-audits to identify and fix system leaks, and eliminate unmetered uses. Water must also be priced to cover costs and encourage efficiency. Pricing water accordingly can yield a 15% reduction in water use. Some water utilities adopt two-part fee systems, which establishes a flat service fee that covers all utility fixed costs, such as well and pipe maintenance and pump station operations; a variable fee for the volume of water consumed, charging significantly higher rates as water consumption increases, to discourage water waste and lower rates for conserving households and low and fixed income customers. Also, and higher fees associated with water waste funds conservation incentive programs and alleviates increased cost to lower and fixed income customers (American Rivers, Inc., 2008). Another efficient practice is to meter all water users. Most apartments, condos, and commercial buildings include a flat rate for water in rent or monthly fees, effectively eliminating any market signals to encourage water efficiency. Water meters should be installed on all new homes, multi-family apartment buildings, and businesses. Incentives should be provided to retrofit existing multi-family and commercial buildings. Outdated appliances and fixtures wastes water. Installing water efficient fixtures and appliances can yield a 35% savings in household consumption. American Rivers, Inc., estimates if all U.S. households installed water efficient appliances, the country would save 8.2 billion gallons of water per day, an amount equal to approximately 20% of total U.S. public water supply, which could provide the Southeast with their entire public water supply (American Rivers, Inc., 2008). Communities should invest in voluntary incentive programs that provide rebates, swap-outs, or direct installations to retrofit wasteful water fixtures or appliances. They could also mandate retrofitting of antiquated fixtures and appliances upon resale of homes or establishment of a new water account and provide free audits for all customer sectors to assess where the most cost-effective and water efficient savings can be ensured. Landscaping to minimize water waste is also crucial. Communities could require dedicated irrigation meters for large landscapes (such as office parks, hospitals, and schools) and create a significantly higher water rate for irrigation purposes. Outdoor water use could also be reduced by requiring moisture or rain sensors for all irrigations systems, providing free irrigation system audits, and promoting different landscape models to reduce water-intensive plantings (American Rivers, Inc., 2008). Many people in the U.S. know very little about the source and cost of their water supply. This leaves water users uniformed and disengaged. Communities and water suppliers should take simple steps to create an outreach campaign about smart, simple, and cost-effective water efficiency; display water bills by billing in gallon increments on a monthly basis and share historical usage data; and designate a staff member to coordinate water efficiency, conservation, and reuse programs (American Rivers, Inc., 2008). Water education is also mentioned in the “Education” section of this report. It is important to build efficient water infrastructure for the future. In order to do this, communities should enact policies that promote the use of alternative sources of water (grey [gray?] water and rainwater) for uses that do not require drinking quality water; design homes and neighborhoods to capture and reuse stormwater onsite; require dual plumbing for new homes and businesses; and regularly update building codes and ordinances to support or require water efficient technology (American Rivers, Inc., 2008). Water conservation practices also need to promote ecological sustainability. Lack of water compromises the health of a river as well as its ability to sustain human and natural communities. To maintain healthy flows, a portion of water efficiency savings should be returned to the river. State level policy should be adopted that requires that river and community budgets be developed for every river, estuary, and aquifer in the state. Water budgets should provide an assessment of the ecologically sustainable flow (conservation or in-stream flow) for a healthy river; a determination of how much water can be sustainably harvested from a river; and an assessment of community priorities that establishes how the public’s shared water resource should be used (American Rivers, Inc., 2008). Lastly, it is important to involve water users in decisions. Opportunities for significant water savings can be overlooked without having all stakeholders involved. Communities can involve water users by creating a standing advisory board, with representatives from all sectors including industrial, commercial and residential, to provide ideas, guidance and assistance with water supply policy and programs, and hosting town hall meetings about policy and rate changes to engage questions and develop support for rate changes, outdoor water regulations, and efficiency programs (American Rivers, Inc., 2008).
WATER REUSEWASTEWATER RETURN DISCHARGEA wastewater treatment plant survey was conducted using an online search of ADEM’s public records in order to determine the number of wastewater treatment facilities and quantities of treated wastewater discharged to water bodies in the CPYRW. A search on ADEM’s website yielded 26 wastewater treatment facilities for reporting year 2012 that discharge treated wastewater to water bodies in the CPYRW (fig. 83). The average daily discharge from all 26 facilities for reporting year 2012 was 18 mgd, with a total flow of 6,570 million gallons per year (table 31). Based on the search results, the majority of the discharges occur in Houston County, which has an average of 5.75 mgd of treated wastewaters discharged in the CPYRW. Currently in the U.S., estimates are that 7 to 8% of treated wastewater is being reused (USEPA, 2012__a or other letter?). Based on this estimate, about 520 million gallons per year, or 1.4 mgd, could be reused in the CPYRW. By comparing the estimated average daily water use for 2010 (178.64 mgd), estimated water saved by reuse would be less than 1% a day. Currently, Alabama has no reuse of treated wastewater.
RECOMMENDATIONWater reuse regulations should be developed and implemented by ADEM. Treated wastewater reuse should be considered for agricultural irrigation and golf courses in areas in reasonable proximity to sources of treated wastewater. POLICY OPTIONPolices related to the management of treated wastewaters should be established by ADEM and included in a state water management plan. Directory: downloads downloads -> Northern England’s set-jetting locations downloads -> Dynatest 3031 lwd light Weight Deflectometer downloads -> Forth coming competitive exams downloads -> Brush High School Morning Announcements Friday, September 05, 2014 all school downloads -> Year 9 The Arts — Music downloads -> Years 7 and 8 standard elaborations — Australian Curriculum: Music draft downloads -> Chris Young sets 2016 “I’m Comin’ Over” Tour headlining dates downloads -> Slavery and Abolition: the Plymouth Connection Introduction downloads -> Summer Assignment Download 0.51 Mb. Share with your friends:
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