Four Corner - Texas Water Development Board

stringent plumbing codes for new construction. Throughout the nation, utilities
have found that by revising plumbing codes, reductions in new water usage of 25-
30% can be achieved. This type of reduction can have a significant impact on
reducing the high cost of renovating and constructing water and wastewater
treatment facilities. Water use reductions in rural areas on the order of 10-15%,
should be expected for less developed rural areas.
Existing plumbing facilities can also be retrofitted m order to reduce water
consumption. Although this may involve an initial capital outlay, all of the
measures are cost effective in the long-term. Utilities have employed various
methods to recover the costs of plumbing retrofit incentive programs. An
aggressive retrofit program can result in water savings of 15-25% per residence.
Participation level of 20-50 %, can result in an overall water consumption savings
of around 5%.
The population growth projection was applied to the 1,150 current estimated
population and average daily water demand of 264,420 gallons was projected for
the year 2020 with and without conservation measures. An overall savings of
approximately 10% could be achieved by 2020 by adoption of a guidelines that
reduce water consumption in new construction;
• Guidelines phased in can result in projected a net water savings of 2% by
2005, 5% by 2010, 7-112% by 2015, and 10% by 2020;
• Initial area consumption could be reduced by 5% through a retrofitting
program and other conservation measures.
An emergency water demand management program includes those measures that
enable the water utility management to significantly reduce water use on a
temporary basis. These measures involve voluntary reductions, restrictions, or
elimination of certain types of water use and water rationing. Because the onset of
an emergency condition is often rapid, it is important that the utility management
be prepared in advance. Further, the citizen or customer must know that additional
measures not identified in the water conservation program may also be necessary
if a drought or other emergency condition occurs.
Four Corners Area Water and Wastewater Facilities Planning Study
Page 8-2
FINAL REPORT