1. Water Conservation How saving water can save money and provide customers with eco- friendly living The Coalition for Water Security for the RI Association of Realtors 2010

2. Curriculum Outline Understanding water in RI (Austin/Kerr) Understanding water in RI (Austin/Kerr) Landscaping and water use on residential properties (Venturini) Landscaping and water use on residential properties (Venturini) Indoor water use (Marks) Indoor water use (Marks)

3. Water is a finite resource

5. Groundwater Withdrawals and Impervious Areas affect streamflow Takes water from Takes water from the stream Lowering the groundwater Lowering the groundwatertable In summer take In summer take away cold springs Introducing hot runnoff Introducing hot runnoff

6. Flow in Rivers and Streams

7. Flows are low in the summer. Residential water use Increases in the summer.

8. Scituate Reservoir – Ave. Summer/Winter Withdrawals MGDMGD Difference between winter and summer water use is increasing over time

9. 1990’s Ipswich River in MA Ipswich River dewatered by water withdrawals in the watershed

10. Hunt/Annaquatucket Basin

11. Hunt River, North Kingstown, Rhode Island August 2005 Water used by North Kingstown, Kent Co. and Quonset

12. September 7, 2007 Hunt River at Forge Road

14. What happens when flow is low Change in temperature of water Change in quality of water Change in habitat availability Change in the fish community

15. Fish Communities Macrohabitat generalists Requires Flowing water some of the time alewife blueback herring Requires Flowing water a majority of the time brook trout Atlantic salmon Does not require flowing water American eel brown bullhead chain pickerel largemouth bass yellow perch Fluvial Dependents Fluvial Specialists

17. Withdrawals above Davisville

18. Water also impacts economic development and safety North Kingstown’s municipal water system experiences supply shortfalls during peak demand periods.

19. Municipal Response - ongoing June 2010, town staff recommended denial of water main extensions to 2 new developments. Additional developments in question. June 2010, town staff recommended denial of water main extensions to 2 new developments. Additional developments in question. Town Council considering water conservation measures. Town Council considering water conservation measures. Adequate water for fire and safety during periods of peak usage is a concern. Adequate water for fire and safety during periods of peak usage is a concern.

20. Watersheds of Concern Preliminary data indicates that the following watersheds may not be supporting the goals Preliminary data indicates that the following watersheds may not be supporting the goals We need to address the areas in Red through conservation and reduced demand. We need to address the areas in Red through conservation and reduced demand. –Hunt River –Chipuxet River –Westerly –Jamestown –Cumberland and Woonsocket We may be able to look for more water to supplement from the green areas. We may be able to look for more water to supplement from the green areas. Current demand < withdrawal standard Current demand may exceed Withdrawal standard Current demand exceeds Withdrawal standard Undetermined

21. Groundwater systems have limited storage and are more sensitive Areas Currently Served by Major Water Suppliers In RI Green – grd water Red – surface water Yellow – mixed Other areas rely on individual wells

22. The Problem Current water use affects river flow and causes dangerously low flow in some rivers Current water use affects river flow and causes dangerously low flow in some rivers Summertime water use – much of it residential outdoor use – is a significant component of the use Summertime water use – much of it residential outdoor use – is a significant component of the use Ecological impacts include shifts in fish populations Ecological impacts include shifts in fish populations We are choosing to water lawns rather than support community growth and development We are choosing to water lawns rather than support community growth and development

23. Save Water, Save Money Water Use and Efficiency Act 2009 Enforceable demand management programs (WRB) will encourage – –Reduction in summer peak – –Per capita water use goals Conservation pricing PUC rules Revenue stabilization funds

24. Reducing residential demand: What works? Watering restrictions Once a week: reduced use 57% Twice a week: reduced use by 33% Incorporation of Native Landscaping Principles (water conservation and habitat restoration) Incorporation of Low Impact Development techniques to treat stormwater runoff flows (water pollution prevention) Price signals Fla. study: 50-80% price increase, 55% use decrease Irvine, CA: increasing block rates, 50% decrease in outdoor watering

25. Reducing residential demand: What doesn’t work? Landscapes predominated by exotic plant species Presence of extensive impervious cover Automatic sprinkling systems Alternate day watering rules Voluntary programs

26. Water Use in the Home

27. Low Flow Toilets Toilets account for nearly 30 percent of an average home's indoor water consumption. Switching over to water-efficient plumbing fixtures could save the average household as much as $50 to $100 a year on water and wastewater bills. Older toilets typically used up to 7 gallons per flush, and then they 'evolved' to a more efficient 3.5 gallons per flush, and then to 1.6 gallons per flush. The new 'Low Flow' or 'High-Efficiency' toilets only use about 1.3 gallons per flush, and save your family between 8,000 and 20,000 gallons of water per year, per toilet over the 7 gallon models and save about 3,200 gallons relative to the 3.5 gallon models.

28. Dual Flush Toilets Older toilets use about 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush. Low flow toilets use only 1.6 gallons per flush and save between 8,000 and 20,000 gallons of water per year, per toilet. Dual-flush toilets take savings to the next level, because they have two buttons - one for a light flush at 0.9 Gallons and the other for a heavy flush at 1.6 gallons.

29. Water saving with toilet replacements* * H2ouse.org

30. Shower Heads

31. Shower water use, national avg.* National Average Shower volume17.2 gallons Shower duration8.2 minutes Shower flow rate2.2 gallons per min. Daily per capita use11.6 gallons Showers per capita per day 0.67 showers per day * Mayer, et. Al, 1999 from www.h2ouse.orgwww.h2ouse.org

32. High performance showerheads Pressure regulated high-efficiency or high- performance shower heads save about 40% of the water required by conventional showers -- reducing the water flow from 2.5 Gallons Per Minute (GPM) to about 1.6 GPM. They also save energy when you use less fuel to heat the water for each shower. Each shower head now only costs between $40 and $60. New models provide ample pressure, and for a family of four, the savings can add up to hundreds of dollars per year and thousands of gallons of water.

34. Dishwashers

35. Saving water washing dishes A typical dishwasher uses between 8 and 15 gallons per load of dishes with an average of about 9.3 gallons per load (Mayer, et. al. 1999). Some manufacturers do offer high-efficiency dishwasher models. These dishwashers use less water and more significantly, less energy than the standard models. A high-efficiency dishwasher can wash a load of dishes using 5 to 7 gallons of water. A family that replaces a 12-gallon per load machine with a 6-gallon per load machine, and runs their dishwasher 4 times per week will save about 1,250 gallons of water per year.

36. Faucets

37. Faucet Water Use National Average* Daily per capita use10.9 gallons Avg. Faucet flow rate1.3 gallons per minute Daily per capita faucet use duration 8.1 minutes * Mayer, et. Al. 1999 from www.h2ouse.org

38. Water saving with faucet aerators

39. Washing Machines

40. Clothes washer water use rates National Average* Clothes washer load volume 40.9 gallons Daily per capita use15.0 gallons Frequency of use0.37 loads per capita per day * Mayer, et. al. 1999 from www.h2ouse.org

41. High-efficiency clothes washers Reduced the average volume per load by 40% overall. Hot water use was reduced by 63% and per capita use was reduced by 38%.

42. Water use varies by: Type of property. Single family vs. multi family Location. Urban vs. suburban Lot size (lawn size) Whether the property has in ground irrigation Residential vs. commercial

43. Water Used to be so easy!