The Safe Drinking Water Act amendments of 1996 include a short and relatively little known provision concerning water conservation planning. The provision requires the US Environmental Protection Agency to publish guidelines for conservation planning by water systems. However, use of the guidelines in conjunction with the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) or other programs is completely at the discretion of the states. For example, states can choose whether to require a conservation plan as part of a DWSRF application or award points to systems based on their completion of a plan. Although conservation planning is a voluntary provision, it has the potential to bring conservation into the mainstream of utility capital planning. Strategic use of conservation will help extend the value and life of water supply assets, while also expanding the beneficial investment of public funds through the DWSRF.
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