Water conservation standards are crucial to addressing future challenges

The Biden administration recently announced an additional $5.8 billion in targeted investments for drinking and wastewater infrastructure nationwide. Washington, D.C., has been allotted $42 million to replace lead pipes and support ongoing efforts to upgrade aging wastewater and sanitation infrastructure. With guidance from Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office, DC Water will be allocating part of this funding to its ongoing program to replace deteriorating water systems in a safe, environmentally friendly and efficient manner. DC Water delivers 900 million gallons of drinking water a day via 1,300 miles of pipes and cleans 300 million gallons of wastewater, returning it to the Potomac River cleaner than before. In this monumental task, water conservation is key to the entire enterprise.

While 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, less than 1% is available for human use. A single dripping faucet can waste hundreds of gallons per year. With water supplies becoming more sensitive, conserving water is the best way to protect the environment and save energy. That’s why DC Water does everything possible to provide customers with the necessary resources for water efficiency in every room in their home, tips on how to practice water conservation outdoors, information on how to identify leaks in plumbing, pipes and fixtures, and a proven system for monitoring abnormal water usage—high-usage notification alerts.

Changing consumption patterns and modifying day-to-day activities will help ensure every DC resident has safe and affordable water. However, city planners and policymakers also need to adopt modern water conservation standards in their housing and business construction policies. The District must have the resources to adapt to climate change, protect its water infrastructure against cybersecurity risks and continue to attract the best talent in the water sector.

Like many older cities, Washington, D.C., is committed to the dual task of fixing aging infrastructure, while conserving the water residents will use right now. This work is ongoing. Lost water from the system is a more common and widespread problem than many people understand. Water can be lost due to overflows at storage tanks, aging pipes, metering problems or data errors at the plant, and utilities are upgrading their facilities to address that loss. On the consumer side, where the users are distributed across a region, conserving water through more water-efficient building standards both in residential and commercial construction can make a big difference in averting shortfalls.

Nationwide, water losses pose a staggering conservation challenge. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, more than 6 billion gallons of water—enough to fill 9,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools—is already being lost each day. And with the American Water Works Association predicting that a substantial portion of the nation's drinking water pipes will require repair or replacement by 2040, it’s  imperative to conserve water now by adopting stronger water conservation building standards.

To have a lasting impact on water resources and meet the demand for more water-efficient homes, policymakers must prioritize proven conservation solutions that enhance water efficiency in construction. Adopting and updating building codes and standards, including the International Green Construction Code (which is already utilized in the District), will help address water scarcity challenges at the building level through fixture efficiency, reuse and site management. But there is much work ahead.

DC Water participated in an expert panel in March, regarding the critical need for stronger water conservation standards. Speaking at the Water Conservation Summit, DC Water Vice President Maureen M. Holman addressed growing water scarcity challenges and the enormous water conservation benefits that decentralized water conservation measures, including building codes and standards, can provide. 

Water challenges facing Washingtonians are influenced by a multitude of factors, including aging infrastructure, climate variability, limited water sources and equitable access to water. One of the best ways the District can prepare for these challenges is by strengthening conservation practices. Smart and efficient standards represent a fast, cost-effective way to insulate local communities and lay the foundation for more innovative strategies to provide clean water services to growing populations. Protecting every drop of water must be a priority for every local lawmaker and official.

David L. Gadis serves as chief executive officer and general manager of DC Water, where he is spearheading a new strategic plan that includes improving both customer satisfaction and employee engagement and a commitment to performance planning and business process improvement.