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Best Practice Guide |
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Local Governments |
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Water UseResidential
Offer a water conservation device depot where residents can get free water-saving devices. This is a great option for special observances such as Earth Day and Water Awareness Week. Devices might include low-flow shower heads, toilet tank displacement devices, dye tablets to detect leaks in toilets, dual-flush devices, early closure devices, or flapper valves. Distribute water-saving devices door-to-door. This program involves going door-to-door with two high-quality shower heads and two toilet tank “dams” along with dye tablets to detect leaks, instructions, and conservation literature. Offer free installation and pick-up of old devices. Staff should return to homes up to three times to be sure the devices are installed. This face-to-face marketing combined with free product and installation is highly effective and has secured a 75 percent installation rate. Provide home water audits. This is a comprehensive evaluation of all indoor and outdoor water use. This will educate homeowners about water conservation practices. Typically this program is aimed at homes with above average water use. Steps in this process include establishing a database with the homeowners contact information and prior water use records, hiring and training auditors, mailing notifications to all potential auditees, contacting auditees and if possible, scheduling a visit, conducting both indoor and outdoor audits, creating a short report for the auditee summarizing the findings, mailing follow-up information and notices to encourage participation, and establishing an evaluation process to document program success. Offer residential leak detection programs. Steps in this program include targeting homes with higher-than-average water consumption, training staff to use the leak-detection equipment for residential systems, directing staff to listen for leaks at each water meter and at an external hose bib at each house, confirming apparent leaks with a second visit, noting homes with leaks for later water-use analysis and leaving a door hanger notifying occupant of apparent leak, as well as conducting a telephone survey to follow up on the percentage of occupants who actually repaired leaks. Offer toilet rebates. Steps include developing a marketing plan, conducting training seminars for plumbing suppliers, retailers, suppliers, and city and county inspectors, implementing the marketing plan, and inspecting each bathroom installation to ensure that it qualifies.
Publish a consumer guide for water-saving devices on your city website. Simply telling citizens to purchase and install water-saving devices is not enough. Publishing a guide that informs consumers about parts and equipment, indicates a price range for each item, and lists local suppliers is key. So as to avoid favoritism, the guide should include a disclaimer that the list of suppliers is not an endorsement, but should be used for informational purposes only. |