Water Efficiency Watch - March 2022

In this issue of Water Efficiency Watch...

• Fix a Leak Week
• Member Spotlights
• AWE Webinars and Roundtable Discussion
• Emerging Water Technology Symposium
• Exemplary Wholesalers added to AWE’s G480-20 Leaderboard
• DOE Finalizes Rules to Revert to Standards for Showerheads, Dishwashers and Clothes washers
• Apply for SWAT Award
• Next Generation Water Summit
• AWE Sponsorship Opportunities
• AWE Welcomes Lowell Lampen to its Board of Directors
• News Briefs

Fix a Leak Week

It's that time of year again to hunt down the drips for Fix a Leak Week! This annual initiative from EPA WaterSense encourages homeowners across the country to fix water-wasting leaks in toilets, faucets, irrigation systems, and other places in and around the house. Participate this year from March 14-20 through family fun runs, leak detection contests, WaterSense demonstrations, and more. Fix a Leak Week events happen from coast to coast and are all geared to teach you how to find and fix household leaks. Click here  to learn more about Fix a Leak Week activities and access resources from EPA WaterSense.

AWE also offers numerous leak-repair resources on its Home Water Works website. These include several how-to videos on fixing leaks in toilets, faucets, showers and tubs, and pools. There’s also a video that shows how you can use your water meter to find a leak. Click here to view the full collection of resources

Member Spotlights

Green Media Creations Leak Detection Classes

Did you miss out on the opportunity to educate your customers during Fix-A-Leak Week? AWE partner Green Media Creations, a leader in water conservation education and outreach, offers different options to present their Leak Detection class, which includes providing an on-demand option. Your customers can watch at their leisure! 

Classes Available:

• Indoor-only Leak Detection
• Outdoor-only Leak Detection
• Indoor & Outdoor Leak Detection (Available On-Demand)

GMC also offers how-to videos on leak detection for licensing. These videos are great for posting on social media accounts and websites.

Video Topics:

• How to isolate a water leak
• How to read your water meter
• How to check for a leak using a water meter

For more details on how to schedule a class or license a video, contact Silvia Gutierrez at sgutierrez@greenmediacreations.com. Click here  to learn more about Green Media Creations.

City of Roseville, CA, uses Cash for Grass, Mulch Mayhem, and other programs to reduce water use 27% during drought

AWE Partner City of Roseville (CA) offers multiple resources for residents and commercial businesses to conserve water, including house calls, rebates, workshops, events and online tools. Their programs helped reduce water use 27% between November 2020 and November 2021. Click here  to learn more.

AWE Webinars and Roundtable Discussion

March 16 - Accessing Federal Funds for Water Efficiency in Reclamation States

Join AWE and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) on March 16 at 1 p.m. CDT to learn how water utilities in western states can take advantage of upcoming funding opportunities. These include 2022 WaterSmart grants and water efficiency funds allocated in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This webinar is free for AWE members only. Click here to learn more and to register.

March 29 - Integrating Land Use and Water Management - Nationwide Planning and Practice

Don't miss a collaborative webinar from AWE and the Water and Planning Network on March 29 at 11 a.m. CDT. This webinar will explore recent research into state laws for integrated land use and water management planning. Click here to learn more and to register.

April 7 - Roundtable Discussion: Strategies for Delivering Water Conservation Programs to Disadvantaged Households

AWE is excited to announce the first edition of its roundtable discussion series: Strategies for Delivering Water Conservation Programs to Disadvantaged Households. Unlike our traditional webinar format, these roundtables will feature facilitated conversations in breakout groups. Notes from each group will be taken, and each group will report at the end of the Roundtable. Join us on April 7 at 1 p.m. CDT to be a part of the conversation about what has and hasn’t worked for local water agencies in delivering water conservation programs to disadvantaged households, and to explore new strategies for expanding the impact of such programs. Click here to learn more and to register.

Emerging Water Technology Symposium

There's still time to register for the 7th Biennial Emerging Water Technology Symposium (EWTS), to be held in San Antonio, TX, May 11-12, 2022.

Connect with water professionals and discover ideas and approaches about emerging technologies coming to market, learn about innovative green plumbing and mechanical concepts, view presentations, network with peers, and more. Presentations include:

Tackling Blind Spots in Water Wastage

Adnan Lehry, Director of Sales, Lehry Valves

This presentation primarily focuses not just on water conservation, but the blind spots where water is getting wasted. The presentation will explore how water professionals can go about tackling such scenarios and how builders and designers can incorporate these with ease into their projects.

Is Your Toilet Running? Then You Better Go Catch It

Eric Austin, Utilities Advisor

The current methods of toilet leak detection in large multifamily properties either involve regular sitewide audits, a vigilant tenant, or a dye tab. This presentation explores how catching these leaks when and where they happen can prevent unnecessary water waste that benefits no one.

Next Generation Water Loss Tracking and Compliance Management

Amit Sharma, Founder and CEO, AQUATRAX

Learn about next-generation AI & Cloud-based Water Loss Tracking Platforms that will help water agencies and their customers track water use effectively by lowering the non-revenue water, and being compliant with legislation.

Click here  to learn more and to register for the EWTS.

Exemplary Wholesalers added to AWE’s G480-20 Leaderboard

AWE is excited to announce the addition of two exemplary wholesalers to the G480-20 Leaderboard: Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and Upper Trinity Regional Water District (TX).

The AWWA G480-20 Water Conservation and Efficiency Program Operation and Management Standard is a voluntary standard that outlines critical elements of an effective water conservation and efficiency program. AWE will review and verify compliance for current members free of charge, and members can request the AWE Compliance Checklist here.

Congratulations again to these two water efficiency leaders. Click here to view the full leaderboard and learn how to get your utility recognized!

DOE Finalizes Rules to Revert to Standards for Showerheads, Dishwashers and Clothes washers        

The Alliance for Water Efficiency once again praised the Department of Energy (DOE) for reversing Trump-era rulemakings that undermined water efficiency standards. On December 16, 2021, DOE reversed weakened showerhead standards, and similar rules for dishwashers and clothes washers were restored effective February 18, 2022. AWE had rallied our network to oppose the weakened standards and filed a lawsuit when the rules were adopted over our objections.

"AWE and our partners are thrilled to see water efficiency standards restored for showerheads, clothes washers, and dishwashers," said AWE President and CEO, Ron Burke. "As climate change continues to threaten water reliability and affordability, these misguided rules could have wasted billions of gallons of water and significantly raised customers' water bills."

Click here to learn more.

Apply for SWAT Award

AWE partner the Irrigation Association is excited to once again recognize water providers committed to promoting irrigation technologies and practices. The annual Smart Water Application Technologies (SWAT) awards are open for applications! Apply by March 31, 2022 to put your program in consideration for an award. Click here  to learn more.

Next Generation Water Summit

The Next Generation Water Summit (NGWS) returns virtually May 19-20, 2022. This year's theme is "Growth in the Time of Drought", and there will be multiple tracks devoted to this pressing issue. The keynote address will be delivered by Robert Glennon, one of the nation's thought leaders and commentators on water policy and law. Click here  to learn more.

AWE Sponsorship Opportunities

The Alliance for Water Efficiency is now offering our Business and Industry partners opportunities to further engage with the AWE network through collaborative initiatives, sponsorships, and public recognition. These opportunities feature various offerings above and beyond the benefits of traditional membership. Sponsorship opportunities include:

• AWE’s Annual Member Meeting
• AWE Webinars
• AWE’s Home Water Works Website and Calculator
• Water Efficiency Watch Newsletter
• Research Reports
• Regional AWE member Meetings and Symposia
• Social Media Channels

Click here to email Rachel at AWE to view the full list of pricing and to discuss how you can use these sponsorships to elevate your exposure to the water efficiency community. AWE is also willing to discuss a customized arrangement to cater to a company’s inclinations.

AWE Welcomes Lowell Lampen to its Board of Directors

AWE is excited to announce the addition of Lowell Lampen, Director of Engineering at Kohler Co., to its Board of Directors. Lowell has worked in engineering and product development leadership roles throughout his career with over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry from OEM and supplier perspectives, and the past 13 years in the plumbing industry with Kohler. For 12 of the years with Kohler, he served as Director of Engineering for Kohler’s Sanitary Products within the Americas. Most recently, he leads Kohler’s Strategic Technology Partnerships for the Kitchen & Bath Group.

Click here to learn more about Lowell's career.

News Briefs

First-in-the-nation Project will Cover Canals with Solar Panel Canopies. Learn more here .

Expecting the Western Drought to End Soon? Not Likely, Experts Say. Learn more here .

Western Megadrought is Worst in 1,200 years, Intensified by Climate Change, Study Finds. Learn more here .

AWE profiled in Contractor Magazine. Learn more here .

AWE: IAPMO's Partner in Sustainable Use of Water. Learn more here .