Causes and Consequences of Declining Municipal Water Demand

Presented on Thursday, April 30, 2015

Learn what has been driving the widespread, long-term declines in municipal water demand, and how they are impacting capital improvements, acquisition of new supplies, budgeting and rate setting, and conservation programs, during this half-hour online presentation.

Declines are seen in both indoor and outdoor demand. In most areas, rates of per capita declines have exceeded population growth, resulting in utilities delivering less water to more people.

Factors driving down indoor demand include efficiency standards for appliances and fixtures. Outdoor demand has also dropped, reflecting changing tastes in landscapes, the declining appeal of backyard pools, and a growing interest in sustainability. Shifting household demographics also are impacting demand, in complex ways. Water demand is no longer tightly tied to population, economic output, or quality of life, and the downward trends are expected to continue through the end of the decade.                                                                

Many water professionals who were planning how to meet expected growing water demands have been surprised, perplexed, and even challenged by declines in demand. A number of issues have arisen, including fiscal consequences, operational issues, planning challenges, and public perception issues.

The presentation concludes with thoughts on how this came to be, and how we might better plan to meet future municipal water needs.

Speaker:
Gary Woodard, M.P.P, J.D.
Montgomery & Associates, Tucson, AZ
Gary Woodard is a consultant with Montgomery & Associates, modeling water demand, evaluating utility assets, forecasting trends, and assessing conservation programs. He’s addressed water resources issues as both a consultant and academic for more than 30 years. At the University of Arizona, Woodard brought a wide array of analytical skills to bear on a range of water policy issues. He’s also chaired a water district, founded a water conservation alliance, and is a past president of UCOWR. Woodard’s work with two UNESCO water centers has taken him to arid lands across the Middle East and North Africa, and he also helped draft Saudi Arabia’s new National Water Act.

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