Real World Experiences Business, Industry & Government Water Conservation Program Jeff Sandberg PNWS Conference May 2, 2008

Customer Requests Green building Cost reduction Unexpected increases

Green Buildings - Office Replace toilets, faucets, showerheads Determined fixture use by manf. Date Estimated savings: 1.6 MG/mth Actual (so far) 98,000 gal/mth

Green Buildings - Hotel Faucets are 0.5 gpm Installed 2.0 gpm showerheads Estimated savings: >300,000 gal/mth

Reducing Costs - Office Installed 0.5 gpm faucets Estimated savings: ~ 39,000 gal/mth

Reducing Costs – Glass Installed recirculation system Estimated savings: ~ 450,000 gal/mth

Unknown Use – Asst. Care Use ~ 1,150 gpd excess 8 leaking toilets – 144 gpd per toilet

Unknown Use – Tavern Excess use ~ 1,900 gpd Plumber checked Dye tested.

Unknown Use – Restaurant Excess use ~ 5,000 gpd or 3.3 gpm

Unknown Use – Firelines Pumps, risers and underground

Unknown Use – Trap Primer Ultrasonic metering Excess use: 27,000 gpd

Unknown Use – Single Pass Replaced with air cooled Savings: ~ 495,000 gal/mth

Unknown Use Feline Entertainment Humidification Retribution

World Of Conservation… To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect. Oscar Wilde The simplest answer is usually the correct one.

Ultrasonic Water Meter

Customer Service Through Targeted Water Conservation Programs Sarah Murphy Santner PNWC Conference April 2008

In the City of Portland more than 25% of citizens are classified as low income. For the past ten years the Portland Water Bureau has designed and funded conservation programs that are specifically targeted at low-income families. Current programs: –Home Water Assessment pilot project –Use Less, Pay Less Resource Conservation Targeted programs for low-income customers

Home Water Assessment 2 year pilot project Leverage existing program though the Energy Trust of Oregon 3 water providers partnered –Portland Water Bureau –Tualatin Valley Water District –Rockwood PUD Goal to provide 200 water assessments per year per utility

Home Water Assessment Recruitment Portland targeted outreach to low- income customers only Mailed an invitation flier to all customers enrolled in Portland’s financial discount program. Trained Portland call center staff to make referrals to the program

Home Water Assessment Procedure Staff trained by the Energy Trust of Oregon enter private homes. Toilet leak test. Replace flapper as needed. Measure flow of all faucets and showerheads. Replace aerators and heads as needed. Document presence of dishwasher Document style (front vs. top load) of washing machine Document other leaks

Customer Response –7,230 invitations mailed to date –150 Water Assessments completed –2% response rate Cost –Estimated cost per assessment $50 (devices, staff time, administration, data) Water Savings –Total estimated savings to date based on engineering estimates - 7,147 gallons per day. –Estimated savings 47 gallons/household/day –Approximately $171 year to customer –True savings based on meter data - TBD Home Water Assessment Results

Use Less, Pay Less Resource Conservation Program 2 year pilot project for recycling & water conservation education Outreach to 1,000 low-income customers each year Leverage established community organizations which have existing relationships with clients Train NGO staff to provide education

Recruit community partners Focus groups with target audience Develop training materials & kits for customers Train community partners Use Less, Pay Less Procedure

Customer Response –1,000 customers served per year Cost –$57 per participant Water Savings –Evaluation of savings from another program done with similar kits showed a 13.4 CCF annual savings Use Less, Pay Less Results

Sarah Murphy Santner Residential Conservation Coordinator Questions?