Two Californians say water conservation programs can help alleviate water shortages in Georgia, even with population growth.

The experts, who have developed conservation programs in California, spoke at a Blueprints for Successful Communities symposium entitled "Georgia's Growing Thirst: What's Water Conservation Got to Do with It?"

Collaboration Yields Conservation

The California Urban Water Conservation Council (CUWCC) is a coalition of 264 government, civic, environmental and business interests. Mary Ann Dickinson, CWUCC's executive director, explained how the council works.

CUWCC began in 1991. Its members agree operate through a memorandum of understanding. Rather than set enforceable conservation measures, the council has identified 16 best management practices that decrease water consumption.

Practices must be cost-effective. The council's best management practices cost between $0.26 and $1.40 a gallon, compared to $1.40 most utilities pay for water. The program has delivered results. The district that includes San Diego uses the same amount of water today that it did in 1984 although its population has increased by 3 million.

Cost Incentives Help Conserve Water

Tom Ash, vice president of Cooperative Technologies and Services International, illustrated the potential of CUWCC's best management practices.

The Irvine Ranch Water District, a member of CWUCC, has used rate incentives to conserve water. Their structure charges higher rates for "wasted" water. The base rate is $0.64 per gallon. "Low volume" users pay three-fourths of that rate. "Wasteful" customers pay eight times the base rate or $5.12. Funds collected at the higher rates pay for upgrades to the district's water system.
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Results

During 7 years, Irvine's program decreased residential use 19 percent and landscape use 54 percent, reduced costs for the majority of customers and reduced dependence on expensive imported water.

A 1997-1998 customer survey revealed that 85 percent of customers believe the system is fair. Ninety-two percent feel it accurately reflects their water use and demand. Ash argues that the program succeeds because it is science-based, fair and equitable.

Other successful conservation methods include requiring older homes and businesses to retrofit with low-flow appliances, requiring separate meters for indoor and outdoor use and covering soil with organic matter to reduce erosion and water evaporation.

Georgia faces many of the same challenges California has confronted, including drought, rapid growth, demand for high-quality water at cheap rates and decision makers interested in reservoirs.

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