A growing population, a throwaway culture and chronic drought have many water systems tapped out. However, water conservation and efficiency measures could reduce water demand by as much as 30 percent!

That was the message that Amy Vickers and Mary Ann Dickinson brought to Savannah in February at The Georgia Conservancy's Blueprints for Successful Communities Symposium. More than 100 people attended "Georgia's Growing Thirst: Challenges for Coastal Georgia."

Vickers and Dickinson are two nationally recognized experts in the field of water conservation and efficiency. Dickinson is executive director of the California Urban Water Conservation Council. Vickers is president of Amy Vickers & Associates, Inc., in Amherst, Mass. and author of the highly acclaimed Handbook of Water Use and Conservation. This book is for sale on the Conservancy's web site.

Joining them on the program were a panel of state and local leaders: David Rutherford, Effingham County administrator and Georgia Conservancy trustee; Mary Davis, National Wildlife Federation; Allan Pulaski, The Landings; and Ben Thompson, Coastal Rivers Water Planning and Policy Center.

The California Urban Water Conservation Council is a consensus-based partnership of agencies and organizations concerned with water supply and conservation of natural resources in California. Dickinson explained how the council works and reviewed the 16 best management practices the council has identified for decreasing water consumption. The BMPS are listed on CUWCC's web site.

She also walked the audience through a virtual tour, also featured on the web site, where viewers can click on each location of a typical home and get facts and specific advice on water saving opportunities.

Vickers presented the essentials for successful water conservation programs. A comprehensive water conservation plan is essential to realizing long-term savings. Communities should identify water efficiency options for all water users, including the water utility. Bill stuffers, public education and other outreach efforts can help but do not constitute a "conservation program" that will realize appreciable savings by themselves. To be effective, conservation programs should have a balance of both conservation incentives and measures - not just one or the other.

The panelists exchanged views on how the ideas presented by the two speakers could work in Georgia. David Rutherford spoke to the need for solid information about how much water we consume now to benchmark future savings. "We need to quit pointing fingers," he said, "We're all responsible."

Mary Davis talked about the ecological imperative to conserve. Speaking of advances made in the green industry, Allan Pulaski cited the use of native plants, more efficient irrigation methods and water re-use. Ben Thompson focused on how water shortages may drive how water rights are interpreted and how water is managed.

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