ALLIANCE FOR WATER EFFICIENCY

Programs: 2014 was the seventh year for the alliance for water efficiency (awe), and progress was made on a number of important projects and initiatives, which earned awe important recognition with the us water prize (see #8 below). Highlights of its work are:1. Numerous projects funded through grants and membership contributions were completed in 2014. These completed projects included:a. Developed three rates case studies under a project funded by the water research foundation, which are all available for download from awes website www. Financingsustainablewater. Org. B. Published a rates handbook entitled building better rates for an uncertain world and an accompanying sales forecasting and rates model to assist water utilities in planning for revenue stability. Both resources are available for download from awes website www. Financingsustainablewater. Org. C. Published a white paper entitled sustainable utilities: financial instruments to manage weather-related revenue risk, which is available for download from awes website www. Financingsustainablewater. Org. D. Published a white paper entitled considerations for drought planning in a changing world, which is available for download on awes website www. A4we. Org. E. Holding of 11 webinars during 2014 on important water efficiency topics, attended by 1,100 people. F. Participated in over 40 workshops during 2014, presenting on a range of topics including drought management, water loss control, and rates. G. Fielded 90 technical assistance requests. This remains a core function of awe, and an important benefit and connection to the membership. 2. Work continued during 2014 on a number of other grant-funded projects that were not actually finished in 2014 but which will be completed in 2015 or later:a. Financing sustainable water project (partial work products were produced in 2014 but the overall project will be finished in 2015)b. Outdoor water savings study (phase 1 was distributed in draft form in 2014 and will be published in early 2015)c. Demand hardening study (will be published in 2015)d. Affordable home water efficient designs (will be finished in 2015)e. Net blue project to develop a national template water neutral development ordinance (will be finished in 2016)3. In 2014, the second year of awe's never waste consumer media campaign, 54 communities and businesses across 18 states participated in engaging citizens and customers to spread important water conservation messages. Awe introduced greater flexibility for bottle customization, as well as a never waste logo and two new advertising images to share with participants. 4. In 2014, awe began offering to customize its calculator on the consumer web site, home water works at www. Home-water-works. Org for water utilities wishing more specific information for their own customers. Two utilities immediately signed up for the customization, expected to be completed in early 2015. The website and calculator are linked to many water providers, including in canada, all of whom have a customized logo link. In 2014, 19,112 people used the hww calculator to estimate their home water consumption and learn about ways it can be reduced, an increase of 180% over 2013. 5. During 2014 awe developed a new version 3 of its popular water conservation tracking tool. This version of the tool, now undergoing beta testing, provides updated information and adds water loss control to the menu of programmable activities. Version 3 will be released in 2015. 6. During 2014 awe led the conference planning team hosting efficient 2015, a conference on water efficiency sponsored by the international water association, which will be held for the first time in the united states in cincinnati in april, 2015. 7. During 2014 awe provided legislative updates for 15 pieces of proposed legislation in the us house of representatives and 18 pieces of proposed legislation in the us senate as an informational service to its members. These federal bills were proposed on the topics of sustainable water use and water and energy efficiency, and the alliance provided detailed information on these measures and their status on its online legislative watch page. 8. In april, 2014 awe won the us water prize, awarded by the us water alliance for its leadership and exemplary work in water management.