Progress in US water conservation planning and implementation-1990-2009

摘要

Water conservation has the potential to supplement existing supplies or even constitute an alternative strategy for meeting safe drinking water needs. Because of the benefits represented by savings in both water and money, many municipal districts, regional governments, and water purveyors in the United States are developing and implementing conservation programs.rnThis study investigated the history and progress of state-level water conservation across the United States and analyzed the factors affecting that rate of progress. Byrn2005, 23 states had mandates requiring conservation, compared with 9 states in 1990. At this rate, it would require more than 26 years for the conservation mandate to spread to the remaining 27 states. Although the study did find a correlation between states' commitment to water conservation and their expected population growth and possibility of water shortage, it may take additional legislation and actions by public interest groups to spur more states and municipalities to adopt conservation planning.