AWWA ACE93062

Faced with short supplies, increased demand, and an aging wastewater treatment infrastructure, New York City encouraged conservation through metering and public education. The effort worked, averting a drought emergency in 1991. Conservation strategies include metering, sonar leak detection, hydrant locks, and residential conservation education programs, including building superintendent training and blowoff valve inspections. Toilet rebates loom on the horizon. The city has had to solve the problem of integrating housing and water conservation policies. The strategy has been to sacrifice the use of price incentives in exchange for locked-in use of the best water conservation technology. As part of least cost planning for supply, the city is trying to avoid having to filter its surface water supplies by protecting them. This is just one of eight interlocking goals involving human resources, customer service, finances and productivity, public leadership, water supply, water environment, infrastructure, and environmental health.