Water ConservationWater Conservation

How saving water can How saving water can save money and save money and

provide customers with provide customers with eco-friendly livingeco-friendly living

The Coalition for Water Security for the RI Association of Realtors2010

Curriculum OutlineCurriculum Outline

• Location, location, location. Location, location, location. Understanding water as a regional Understanding water as a regional issue in RI.issue in RI.

• Curb appeal. Landscaping and water Curb appeal. Landscaping and water use on residential properties.use on residential properties.

• Indoor water use.Indoor water use.

1500 miles of riversand streams

20,000 acres of

lakes and ponds

Location, Location, Location

Water supply issues vary with location in Rhode Island

Areas CurrentlyServed by MajorWater Suppliers

In RI

Green – grd waterRed – surface

waterYellow – mixed

Other areas rely on individual wells

Wells and direct withdrawals Wells and direct withdrawals effect stream floweffect stream flow

Water use affects surface water Water use affects surface water flowsflows

Maintaining River Ecology A critical component of water supply management

Ipswich River dewatered by water withdrawals in the watershed

Hunt RiverHunt River

August 2005

September 7, 2007 photo by M. Kerr

Hunt River at Forge Road

River Herring or “Buckies”

American shad (Alosa sapidissima)

Blueback Herring (Alosa aestivalis) Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)

“Target Species”

Fishing for Buckies, About 1910

Historic Pawtuxet Falls

Early 1900’s

North Kingstown Water Monthly Pumping DataNorth Kingstown Water Monthly Pumping Data

March Daily Average and Peak Usage

0

1000000

2000000

3000000

4000000

5000000

6000000

7000000

8000000

9000000

Mar-98-Mar-06

Gal

lons

DAILY AV

PEAK

Max Capacity

April Daily Average and Peak Usage

0

1000000

2000000

3000000

4000000

5000000

6000000

7000000

8000000

9000000

Apr-98-Apr-06

Gal

lons

DAILY AV

PEAK

Max Capacity

Summer Water Use Exceeds Winter Use

MARCH AND APRIL

North Kingstown Water Monthly Pumping DataNorth Kingstown Water Monthly Pumping Data

July Daily Average and Peak Usage

0

2000000

4000000

6000000

8000000

10000000

July 98-July 06

Gal

lon

s DAILY AV

PEAK

Max Capacity

August Daily Average and Peak Usage

0

2000000

4000000

6000000

8000000

10000000

Aug-98-Aug-06

Gal

lon

s DAILY AV

PEAK

Max Capacity

JULY AND AUGUST

How much does water use go up in the summer?