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Water Use & Efficiency

In the United States, per-capita water use has been declining since the 1980s, largely due to efficiency improvements from product standards, codes, and third-party certification programs. Federal and state regulations also impact water use. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 restricted water use in common household fixtures and appliances to save energy. The recent drought in California resulted in Senate Bill 606 and Assembly Bill 1668, which limit indoor water use to 55 gallons per person per day until 2025.

Water efficiency is an important way to increase a utilities’ water supply reliability, decrease the capital costs of building a new supply, ultimately reducing treatment and distribution costs. Because water use trends will continue to change, utilities should be aware of and track the drivers of water use so they can plan appropriately for their service area.

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18 Projects 4 Web Tools 4 Webcasts
Customer Relations & Stakeholder Engagement
Pressure Management
Water Demand & Forecasting
Water Loss
Project #4966

Modeling Future Residential Outdoor Water Demand in Aurora, CO

$27,000
2022
Completed

Project Highlights

This research applied an innovative methodology to water demand forecasting that provides key insights into the relationships between development decisions, water needs, and growth. This analysis of residential outdoor water use in Aurora, Colorado, used a novel housing typology to...

View more details
Principal Investigator
Mia
Stier
Research Manager
Ms. Maureen Hodgins

Recent Updates

Project #4979
Potable Reuse Demonstration Design & ...

Reporting Period: May 1, 2020 - June 1, 2021. During this period, the team completed four...

Project Update
02/18/2022
Project #4979
Potable Reuse Demonstration Design & ...

Reporting Period: June 2, 2021 – December 1, 2021. The project scope was updated and expanded...

Project Update
02/18/2022

News

WRF Accepting Pre-Proposals for Transformative Research Projects That Advance the Science of Water

Press Release
01/12/2022

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is now accepting pre-proposals for novel, transformative research projects for funding through our Unsolicited Research Program. The Unsolicited Research Program funds projects that advance the...

Village Creek Water Reclamation Facility

Featured Facility
Ana Pena-Tijerina
06/14/2019

Village Creek Water Reclamation Facility (VCWRF) has implemented numerous energy-related improvements by executing an Energy Savings Performance Contract with Johnson Controls, Inc.

Water Demand: Improving the Effectiveness of Forecasts and Management

06/06/2019

Water utilities employ demand forecasting at different time scales and for different purposes. Weekly demand forecasts are used for distribution system operations; forecasts a few years into the future are...

View all Water Use & Efficiency News

Resources

Public Plus

Water Conservation: Customer Behavior and Effective Communications

Executive Summary
07/30/2010
07/30/2010
Public Plus

Water Conservation: Customer Behavior and Effective Communications

Report
#4012
07/30/2010
07/30/2010
Public Plus

Evaluating Water Loss and Planning Loss Reduction Strategies

Executive Summary
12/08/2006
12/08/2006
View all Water Use & Efficiency Resources

Related Topics

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Water Demand & Forecasting

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Water Loss

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Customer Relations & Stakeholder Engagement

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Utility Management

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Water Supply Planning

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