The Guide is divided into ten chapters that lead planners through the process of developing a water-efficiency plan. The chapters following this introductory chapter include:
Chapter 2 discusses the development of a water-efficiency plan and explains where the plan elements can be found in the publication.
Chapter 3 deals with assessing current and planned water supply sources, and describes typical sources of supply with the aim of assisting in the preparation of a sources inventory. Water quality and supply vulnerability are considered, while the effects of water efficiency on water and wastewater systems are documented, including the reduced operating costs and downsizing.
Chapter 4 assesses current and future water use. A methodology for evaluating current water use is proposed that includes a table on key characteristics of a service area. Another table is provided to assist in describing water use, which breaks water usage down into customer categories and compares current use with system safe yield and system capacity. A method of analysing historical use is presented and two methods of forecasting future use are explained with examples. One of the latter methods bases the forecasting on a constant per capita use while the second method involves projection by customer class.
Chapter 5 discusses the development of water-efficiency goals and describes a process for setting water goals for the water-efficiency plan. Certain questions are asked that help focus the efforts and, ways to express the goals are suggested. A public participation process is proposed for finalizing those goals, which involves a consensus-building process.
Chapter 6 considers different aspects of determining the feasibility of water-use efficiency measures.
The chapter is divided into two parts. The first part describes water-efficiency measures that apply to a water utility, including system water audits, leak detection and repair. A new method of assessing water losses based on methods proposed by the International Water Association is described, as are different types of water tariffs that apply to metered customers such as water-pricing schemes designed to reduce water use. The second part describes water-efficiency measures that apply to domestic and non-domestic customers. A summary of available water efficient devices is tabulated and a comprehensive list of potential interior and exterior water-efficiency measures is presented in Appendix 3. A qualitative screening process is suggested to enable the planner to reduce the measures to be considered to a manageable number.
Chapter 7 evaluates the cost-effectiveness of measures. It describes how to make a benefit-cost analysis of potential water-efficiency measures and lists a step-by-step process. Benefits that should be quantified include those to the utility through downsizing and deferring capital facilities as well as reductions in operation and maintenance costs. A methodology is exemplified in tabular form, beginning with a procedure for estimating water savings. Estimating the costs of the measures and a process for quantifying agency benefits are explained, and the benefit-cost ratio calculation is demonstrated.
(Note: the reader is also referred to Appendix 4, which contains information and a website link to software for computing the benefit-cost ratio of an efficiency measure.)
Chapter 8 reviews the financing of water-use efficiency programmes. It describes funding sources for water-efficiency programmes, including pricing schemes and private funding as well as outside sources.
Chapter 9 discusses how citizens can participate in developing Plan goals, contribute to the list of efficiency measures being considered, better understand outcomes of the analysis and support the planned investment selected for the Plan. This chapter also explores the opportunities for building capacity by training of professionals, launching education and awareness programmes supported by community leaders, and use of social media to help engage the public in adopting water efficient practices and technologies proposed in the Plan.
Chapter 10 considers programme implementation and overcoming barriers to water-use efficiency. It describes the responsibility of the water-efficiency programme manager, from the preparation of a work plan to the completion of the plan, as well as those of other programme participants. Various obstacles are discussed, including the lack of data and knowledge about water-efficiency measures, and the lack of availability of long-range capital facility plans, and appropriate training and software. The publication is designed to assist users in overcoming many of these constraints.
Appendix 1 provides a glossary of key terms in water use efficiency. Appendix 2 presents internet resources. Appendix 3 provides example measures for consideration when performing the measures screening analysis described in Chapter 6. Appendix 4 illustrates more comprehensive details on cost effectiveness analysis and tools available including reference to a downloadable spreadsheet tool.
Appendix 5 presents a sample checklist for use at a utility customer facility by either water utility surveyors and/or facility managers’review of basic water use efficiency practices and equipment measures.
Supplemental information to this Guide will be updated through the International Water Association’s Efficient Urban Water Management Specialist Group website: http://www.iwahq.org (last accessed May 30, 2013). Online information includes the most up to date information related planning resources and spreadsheet tools available to perform assist with urban water use efficiency planning using cost effectiveness calculations.
CASE STUDY 1
The Australian Urban Water Industry Recognizes the Importance of Water Efficiency
Cilla Delacy, Water Services Association Australia, Melbourne, Australia
The Water Services Association of Australia has published Position Paper 5‘Using Water Wisely’in March 2013 (Water Services Association of Australia, 2013). The recent history of extremes of dry, rain and floods, and high temperatures is thought to be the continent’s climate future. Australian customers and the community are seeking a robust and diverse approach to meet these extremes. Therefore, a combination of baseline investment in water efficiency (not wasting a drop) as well as developing new sources, particularly including those independent of rainfall, such as desalination and water recycling, is the key to a prosperous future.
‘Using Water Wisely’concludes water efficiency is a major success story in Australia. Findings in this paper include:
• ‘Many of the savings achieved through water conservation and efficiency programmes are now locked in, there is a new‘norm’for using water wisely
• Customers clearly view using water wisely as the no. 1 priority in doing their part to develop livable communities
• Water efficiency, desalination and water recycling, together with surface supplies, all form part of a diverse robust portfolio of water source options
• Providing customers with options and choice on how to reach water efficiency targets will be the focus of the future:‘water restrictions, except in emergencies, are a thing of the past (WASA, 2013).’
• Over 900,000 shower head replacements in Sydney and Melbourne metropolitan areas
• Water efficiency and energy efficiency go hand in hand and offer many benefits to customers
• Water efficiency can delay the need for water utilities to invest in expensive capital expenditure
‘Using Water Wisely’ documents success stories from several areas and provides references for more information. A snapshot of some of the water savings made from water efficiency programmes around Australia over the last 10 years is presented in the Table 1.1 below.
Table 1.1 Summary of Australian water efficiency programmes.
City/////Town/////Region Annual water
savings (ML)
Best performing programmes
Sydney 120,000 • Permanent Water Wise Rules
• Leak management
• Business water efficiency programmes
Perth 90,000 • Permanent water efficiency measures (2 day/week sprinkler roster)
• Communications and water loss management programmes
Melbourne 60,000 • Showerhead exchanges
• Watersmart rebate programme
• waterMAP programme (non-domestic customers)
• Target 155 Campaign
Adelaide 55,000 • Permanent Water Wise Rules
• Domestic appliance rebate/exchange programs
• Industrial, Commercial and public open space water efficiency programmes
Canberra 25,000 • Permanent water conservation measures
• Communications, education and awareness raising programmes
• Toilet and showerhead retrofit programmes
• Large non-domestic customers demand management programme
Hunter region (NSW) 1058 Showerheads and tap retrofits
Ballarat 1000 Technical water efficiency programmes
Source: Water Services Association of Australia (2013).
Chapter 2
Developing a Water-Use Efficiency Plan
This chapter provides recommendations for the water utility planner on the content of water-use efficiency plans. The suggested annotated outline of a water-use efficiency plan serves as a structure for the Guide. Each section of the plan outline is discussed in subsequent chapters, which provide additional information on how to prepare the sections of the plan together with recommendations for tailoring water-use efficiency measures and the level of analysis to the size and/or capabilities of the water utility.