Best Practice Guide

Local Governments

Water Use

New Development

Adopt an ordinance strengthening local building code standards. Improved standards (1 gpf for urinals, 2 gpm for lavatory faucets, 2.5 gpm for kitchen faucets, and more water efficient dishwashers and washing machines) would reduce indoor water use in homes by about 25 percent. According to the National Wildlife Federation, if these standards were applied nationwide, the annual water savings resulting from one year's worth of new construction alone would equal the amount of water used by a city of 100,000. If applied to the nation as a whole, these savings would translate to approximately 2,400 megawatts of electricity - the transmitted output of eight 500 megawatt coal plants. Oil and gas would be reduced by the equivalent of 40,000 barrels of oil per day. These water and energy savings would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and amount to $10 billion for consumers.