Question: Our community has hit a state of what we’re calling “conservation fatigue.” People are tired of our ongoing efforts to combat a recent drought. Do you have any advice for inspiring new interest in conservation programs?
Answer: Conservation Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): A condition of weariness that can exist from prolonged mandatory water restrictions coupled with the far-reaching results of poor planning. Communities with this condition can become reluctant to embrace long-term water conservation programs, such as indoor fixture retrofits, as preventative measures. Further, some with this condition have a tendency to use more water than before, especially on their lawns. This condition can easily flare up again when the water provider develops apathy and does little to help prevent the syndrome from recurring.
Many regions in the US that are typically considered water-rich are dealing with prolonged periods of drought and water shortages. Water suppliers are imposing mandatory restrictions on use while agricultural, industrial, and other water users are scrambling to find ways to continue doing business with little or no rainfall. On top of that, the troubled economy adds more insult to the injury, caused by the economic effects of droughts and water shortages. It’s no wonder that many communities are feeling tired and fatigued–CFS.
Although water providers and communities have to determine the best way to navigate through their current droughts and shrinking budgets, implementing a comprehensive water conservation program can lessen the effects of CFS, or even prevent your utility and community from contracting CFS in the future.
Rehab the Misperceptions
Perceptions about water conservation must be changed. Think of it as going through water conservation rehab. Conservation is understandably perceived negatively when there is no action until a crisis like a drought occurs. Long-term, targeted education and outreach campaigns must be implemented to help inform your customers about their water use, water supply, and the regional impacts of excessive use. Simply stated, your customers must first be made aware before they can start to care. Water providers must rehab the way they perceive water conservation, too. Many water providers allow themselves to be stuck in a paradigm about conservation. They assume that conservation just doesn’t work, kills utility revenues, costs too much, or is unreliable compared to developing new sources. Changing how both providers and end-users think about water conservation is the first step on the road to recovery from CFS.
Plan for Sustainability and Success
Every water provider should have a written water conservation plan appropriate for the utility. A water conservation plan can be thought of as a utility’s course of treatment to prevent CFS. For an added dose of prevention, a water conservation plan should be incorporated into the utility’s water supply planning strategy. Linking water conservation plans with utility supply plans and demand forecasts will help promote sustainable supplies. There are numerous technical resources available to utilities at little or no cost to help develop comprehensive water conservation plans. Guides to help utilities develop water conservation plans can be obtained from the US EPA, many state regulatory agencies and water efficiency clearinghouses, American Water Works Association, and Alliance for Water Efficiency. Some states have statewide water conservation programs or plans that can be a valuable resource as planning tools for local water providers. Washington, Texas, Oregon, New Jersey, Colorado, California, Florida, and Georgia are some examples.
For a conservation plan to be successful, someone within the organization must be responsible for coordinating the various aspects of the water conservation program. Water providers should add a water conservation coordinator position within their management structure. Conservation coordinators not only coordinates the internal operations of a program, they can also manage contracted conservation service providers to deliver cost-effective measures, such as residential and commercial retrofit programs, education programs, auditing, and fulfillment services. Making the investments in planning and professional program coordination will help promote program acceptance and cost effectiveness–and prevent CFS.
Turn Your Plan Into a Funded Program
Keep your defenses up against CFS by developing your conservation plan into a cost-effective program for your utility. Although all conservation measures will save water, you should only select and implement those measures that are practical and cost beneficial for your utility. Be prepared to evaluate all water savings, energy savings, costs, and other data to make your programs statistically sound and justifiable. As your programs progress, plan to adjust your program and possibly your plan, based on results obtained. Of course, you have to have a budget to fund these programs. Allocating a portion of higher-tier water revenues is one way to fund conservation programs. Marginal cost pricing or budget-based rates are other options.
Promote the Benefits of Conservation
The reality of water conservation is that proper planning and data analysis, combined with appropriate programming, technology, ratemaking, and marketing, will prompt strong support from the community, water managers, community leaders, and other stakeholders. Water conservation programs, if planned and managed effectively, are almost always affordable and promote revenue stability. Costs to implement water conservation programs can range from $0.30 to about $1.40 per 1,000 gallons saved, depending on the program. Remember to always account for the embedded energy costs in your water costs. Conservation programs should always be implemented when the utility’s cost of water is higher than the unit cost of saved water. With proper management, revenue loss from water conservation programs can be avoided altogether. Water conservation programs can defer, and possibly eliminate, the need for additional capitol facilities for water and wastewater. Well-managed programs also lessen the gap between demands and available supplies. Promoting the many benefits of water conservation will help eliminate CFS from spreading in the future.
Water conservation is a valuable tool in water resource and supply management. Effective conservation programs provide for many economic, operational, environmental, and social benefits when planned and managed well. Many water providers are starting to realize that the costs of water conservation programs are far cheaper than the costs of CFS and its many symptoms.
