Deconstructing Georgia's New Water Conservation Bill

Some folks are saying this bill makes Georgia the the country's leader in water efficiency. I am not sure if that is true, but I do know though that Georgia's water conservation bill was approved by the Georgia General Assembly last week and is just waiting only on Gov. Sonny Perdue's signature to become law.

I finally read through the Water Stewardship Act of 2010 this morning.  Here are some bullet points.

The bill creates new standards after July 1, 2012, for toilets, lavatory and kitchen sink faucets, and urinals required in all new construction. This also applies to the replacement of existing fixtures. These standards include the following:

• Toilets that use more than an average of 1.28 gallons of water per flush would be prohibited in this state. 
• A shower head can use no more than an average of 2.5 gallons of water per minute at 60 pounds per square inch of pressure. 
• A urinal can use no more than 0.5 gallons of water per flush.
• A lavatory faucet or lavatory replacement aerator that allows a flow of no more than 1.5 gallons of water per minute at a pressure of 60 pounds per square inch.

Any person who installs any toilet, faucet, urinal, or shower head in violation of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Ouch.

All new multi-unit retail and light industrial buildings permitted or with a pending permit application on or after July 1, 2012, will require "sub-metering" of water use by each unit. 

The bill also includes a prohibition on landscape watering between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. However, the prohibition only applies to sprinkler systems and other specific uses, such as watering with a soaker hose  are exempt.

In addition to the rules and restrictions, the bill also encourages every state agency and department to look at its water conservation practices, and requires that water systems implement leak detection programs. By January 1, 2012, public water systems serving at least 10,000 individuals must have conducted a water loss audit and by January 1, 2013, all other public water systems should have conducted a water loss audit. Georgia will also adopt rules for the minimum standards and best practices for monitoring and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of water use by public water systems to improve water conservation. This includes:

• The establishment of an infrastructure leakage index;
• The establishment of categories of public water systems based on geographical size and service population;
• A phased-in approach requiring public water systems to conduct standardized annual water loss audits according to the International Water Association water audit method/standard and to submit those audits to the division;
• A phased-in approach requiring public water systems to implement water loss detection programs; and
• The development of a technical assistance program to provide guidance to public water systems for water loss detection programs, to include without limitation metering techniques, utilization of portable and permanent water loss detection devices, and funding when available.

By August 1, 2010, Georgia will also identify and provide for rules, regulations, incentives, or opportunities to:

• Include water conservation measures in the comprehensive plans submitted to the Department of Community Affairs by local governments;
• Provide technical assistance to local governments and public water systems for water loss abatement activities;
• Support state-wide water campaigns and public outreach programs, such as Conserve Georgia and WaterFirst programs;
• Encourage residential and commercial retrofits for water efficient fixtures and equipment;
• Encourage residential and commercial retrofits for water efficient landscaping irrigation systems;
• Encourage the installation of landscapes in commercial and residential settings utilizing landscape best management practices that include soil preparation, plant selection, and water use efficiency;
• Encourage the use of rain water and gray water, where appropriate, in lieu of potable water;
• Encourage the installation of submeters on existing nonsubmetered multifamily complexes and multiunit commercial and industrial complexes;
• Encourage public water systems to develop and improve water loss abatement programs;
• Encourage public water systems to implement the industry's best management practices for controlling water loss and achieve the recommended standards;
• Provide incentives for residential and commercial water conservation pricing by public water systems;
• Provide incentives for public water systems to use full cost accounting;
• Encourage voluntary inclusion of water conservation guidelines in applications fornew ground-water withdrawal permits and surface-water withdrawal permits; and
• Examine the effect that water conservation has on water rates and consider policies to mitigate the financial impact that rate increases or reductions in water use have on water utilities and water users.

Really, I tried to make this a brief summary.