Water Conservation Success & Remaining Potential How do we accelerate progress? Juliet Christian-Smith Pacific Institute

California Can Conserve, and Has! Urban –Since 1980 per capita water use has decreased by up to 33% in some regions –Now at 192 gallons per capita per day Agriculture –Has invested approximately $1.5 billion of in water conservation and efficiency upgrades (AWMC 2009) –60% of irrigated acreage is gravity-fed (2001) How do we accelerate progress?

1) Provide Information

Waste Not, Want Not: Urban Water Conservation Potential Potential Water Savings Averages 33%

Sustaining California Agriculture: Agricultural Water Conservation Potential Efficient Irrigation Technology – shifting from flood irrigation to sprinkler and drip systems; Improved Irrigation Scheduling – using local climate and soil information to schedule irrigation; and Regulated Deficit Irrigation – applying RDI to almonds, pistachios, wine grapes, raisins.

Sustaining California Agriculture - Model Results

Benefits of Reducing Applied Water Improves water quality Increases the volume and improves timing of instream flows Reduces need for capital-intensive infrastructure Reduces vulnerability to water-supply constraints

2) Recognize and Analyze Successes

3) Make Policy-Relevant Recommendations Update water efficiency standards. Provide financial incentives to facilitate the adoption of water conservation and efficiency improvements, target areas with most potential. Improve water use monitoring, particularly for outdoor water consumption. Eliminate pricing policies that subsidize the inefficient use of water.

654 13th Street, Preservation Park, Oakland, California 94612, U.S.A | Institute reports are available in electronic form without charge: Contact Information: Juliet Christian-Smith