Conservation Gains

For 2009, EWUA’s annual production has declined for the 8th consecutive year. This resource management progress has been the result of multiple factors, including member conservation; fees structure changes that “discourage” unnecessary use; improved operating procedures; and a strong commitment to leak detection. While annual production has declined 30% from a 2001 peak of 76.1 million gallons to 52.9 million gallons in 2009, the connections on the system have actually grown 26% from 833 Equivalent Residential Units to 1132 ERUs. Currently, EWUA’s average single family home is using 140 gallons per day.

EWUA has achieved another significant milestone. In 2003 Washington adopted water efficiency rules that required water systems to reduce “unaccounted for” water to less than 10% of production. “Unaccounted for” water is any water lost to leaks and other system inefficiencies. In 2000 EWUA’s unaccounted for water was over 30%. Through multiple efforts over the years that figure has been steadily declining. In 2009 EWUA’s “unaccounted for” water was below 10%.

Conservation is a never ending process. New leaks are always developing in a “mature” water system. The proposed USDA funding related in this newsletter will help EWUA continue to make progress in managing our water resources and infrastructure as efficiently as possible. The planned main replacement will eliminate known leaks and decrease the risk on future leaks. The water saved through efficiency gains and conservation can then be put to more beneficial uses, and help keep future system expansion costs to a minimum.