 The
first national non-profit
organization on water efficiency
has finally been created. Based
in Chicago, the new Alliance for
Water Efficiency (AWE) is
building its organization and
membership and is launching a
comprehensive web site with
information on water efficiency
programs and research. (www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org)
Announced in 2006 by EPA
Administrator Steven Johnson,
AWE was created in partnership
with numerous national,
regional, and state
organizations. The Alliance
received seed funding from EPA
to build a water efficiency
information clearinghouse and to
work on plumbing and appliance
codes and standards issues. The
primary role of the organization
will be as an advocate for water
efficiency research, evaluation,
and education. A charter board
of directors was named early in
2007, consisting of 20
representatives from the US and
Canada. These board members
represent water utilities,
environmental organizations,
plumbing and appliance
associations, irrigation
manufacturers, the academic
community, government, and
others.
The water conservation
community had wanted a means of
creating and presenting a
unified national perspective for
some time. Until the Alliance
was founded, water efficiency
lacked a national organization
similar to those that already
exist for energy, such as the
Alliance to Save Energy, the
Consortium for Energy
Efficiency, and the American
Council for an Energy Efficient
Economy. Up until now, efforts
to promote water efficiency have
necessarily been piecemeal: the
American Water Works Association
Water Conservation Division
provided leadership in water
conservation issues for the
water utility community; the
Irrigation Association developed
some smart-water initiatives on
irrigation controllers and
nozzles; and the California
Urban Water Conservation Council
helped take the place of a
national organization by
providing consulting services on
codes and standards nationwide
and serving as a clearinghouse
on a variety of product issues.
At last these organizations will
now have a national platform for
information sharing and
advocacy.
We all have a stake in the
efficient use of our water
resources. Providing safe
drinking water, maintaining
economic competitiveness, and
protecting ecosystems are all
advanced by improvements in
water use efficiency. Reducing
water demand is often the lowest
cost option for developing new
supplies and in the future, it
may be the only option. But
widespread water-use efficiency
requires strong advocacy and
hard work, the kind of effort
that the Alliance for Water
Efficiency will provide.
Carole Baker,
Chair Alliance for Water
Efficiency
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