Publications
Below is a limited selection of downloadable publications by AWE and others.
***Note: This page contains a limited sampling of AWE-authored publications. For a complete list of our work, see the Our Work page in the IMPACT section.***
Topics: Utility Water Loss Control, Water and Land Use Planning, Water Conservation Programs, Planning, & Evaluation
Publication Date: March 1, 2019
This report focuses exclusively on the water loss portion of the 2017 Water Efficiency and Conservation State Scorecard: An Assessment of Laws. All 50 states were ranked based on state laws promoting water loss control. These ranks are displayed in a map, indicating which states have strong water loss control laws and where there is opportunity for improvement. Different topic areas within water loss control are described, including state funding for M36-compliant technical assistance, audit requirements, and leak detection and correction requirements.
Topics: Water and Land Use Planning, Water Conservation Programs, Planning, & Evaluation
Publication Date: December 12, 2018
This report takes a closer look at the results of the 2017 AWE report, "The Water Efficiency and Conservation State Scorecard: An Assessment of Laws" for the seven Colorado River Basin states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. It recognizes successes, and identifies opportunities where laws and programs can be strengthened to advance the sustainable use of water in the Colorado River Basin.
Topics: Water and Land Use Planning
Publication Date: November 2, 2018
This Guidebook provides hundreds of techniques, sample codes/policies, and community examples that explain how to reduce the water footprint of new development. Each chapter in the guidebook provides water efficiency policy options in a different planning stage: comprehensive plans, zoning code, subdivision regulations, site-plan regulations, development agreements, non-zoning incentives, and more. The Guidebook is targeted to land use planning professionals but written in an accessible manner for water professionals and other interested parties as well.
Topics: Water and Land Use Planning, Water Conservation Programs, Planning, & Evaluation, Water Rates
Publication Date: June 1, 2018
Study Demonstrates Water Conservation’s Pay Off for Ratepayers.
The study analyzed LADWP’s water conservation efforts and impact over the past several decades. LADWP provides water to more than 4 million residents in the City of Los Angeles. Over the years, LADWP has been a leader in water efficiency and conservation. In addition to conservation programs, LADWP also utilizes water rate structures that encourage efficient water use, billing customers for only the actual amount of water they use (rather than billing a flat rate in combination with volumetric rate, as many...
Topics: Water and Land Use Planning
Publication Date: June 1, 2018
Lead by California and Texas, public water withdrawals continue to decline even as population increases according to the USGS Summary of Estimated Water Use in the US 2015 update, recently issued by USGS. The report confirms the significant impact of urban water efficiency across the US. Public withdrawals in 2015 were 7% lower than in 2010, and 2015 was the lowest year since 1985. Per capita use in 2015 was 11.5% lower than in 2010, demonstrating the efficiency increases achieved.
"The latest report from the USGS confirms the tremendous water efficiency gains we have...