Water Efficiency Resources

FEMP provides numerous resources to help Federal agencies implement water efficiency practices and technologies. These resources span:

• Federal Resources
• Federal Guidebooks
• Incentive Program Resources
• Training
• State and Local Resources
• Associations and Educational Resources

Federal Resources

The following Federal resources are available to help agency water efficiency initiatives:

• Side Stream Filtration for Cooling Towers (Full Report): Comprehensive document assessing side stream filtration options for cooling towers, with an objective to assess key attributes that optimize energy and water savings along with providing information on specific technology and implementation options.

• Technical Evaluation of Side Stream Filtration for Cooling Towers (Fact Sheet): Six-page publication providing an overview of side stream filtration options for cooling towers.

• Increasing Federal Office Building Water Efficiency: Quick guide to increasing Federal office building water efficiency, water management planning, performing a water audit, calculating a water balance, and best management practices.

• Cooling Towers: Guide to understanding key components of cooling towers and how to improve water efficiency.

• Methodology for Use of Reclaimed Water at Federal Locations: Guidelines to help Federal agencies use reclaimed water as part of Executive Order 13514 and other Federal water regulations.

• Water Management Planning: Lessons learned from the Y-12 National Security Complex water assessment conducted in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in fiscal year 2010.

• FedCenter Water Efficiency Program: Tools, techniques, and approaches for improving water use efficiency for both potable and non-potable water resources.

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Water: Works to prevent pollution and reduce risk for people and ecosystems in the most cost-effective ways possible.

• EPA WaterSense Office: Partnership labeling program sponsored by the EPA that helps consumers identify water efficient products. Executive Order (E.O.) 13423 encourages all Federal agencies to procure WaterSense products.

• Sandia National Laboratory: Web site on water conservation and efficiency that provides information on Sandia's water program.

• National Renewable Energy Laboratory: Web site featuring NREL activities in water efficiency and conservation.

• Watergy: Watergy has been removed from this website for review and maintenance. Updates will be posted at a later date.

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Federal Guidebooks

The following Federal guidebooks are available to help agency water efficiency initiatives:

• Guidelines for Estimating Unmetered Landscaping Water Use: Voluntary guidelines to help Federal agencies determine landscaping water use in unmetered situations per Executive Order 13514.

• Guidelines for Estimating Unmetered Industrial Water Use: Guidelines to help Federal agencies determine industrial water use in unmetered situations per Executive Order 13514.

• Template for a Comprehensive Water Assessment Statement of Work: Report outlining a template of elements within a comprehensive statement of work for a facility-level water assessment.

• The Air Force Water Conservation Guidebook: This document will walk you through the processes of developing a water management plan and selecting water efficiency best management practices for implementation as part of E.O. 13123 requirements. The guide is useful for both military and civilian agencies.

• Water Management: A Comprehensive Approach for Facility Managers: This General Services Administration document, produced in 2004, provides basics on water management, including water management planning, drought management, and water efficient technologies. The guidebook is based on requirements set in E.O. 13123.

• Military Handbook 1165: Water Conservation: This Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center guidebook produced in 1997 by the Department of Defense provides an overview of water management for Federal installations. Although this guidebook predates new executive orders and legislation, it has useful information on water management planning.

• Update of Market Assessment for Capturing Water Conservation Opportunities in the Federal Sector: Update of the original market assessment done by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in 2001, which evaluated water conservation opportunities for Federal agencies.

• Market Assessment for Capturing Water Conservation Opportunities in the Federal Sector: Original market assessment done by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in 2001, which evaluated water conservation opportunities for Federal agencies.

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Incentive and Rebate Program Resources

• EPA WaterSense Rebate Finder: Listing of WaterSense partners offering rebates and incentives for WaterSense labeled products and services.

• Alliance for Water Efficiency Water Efficiency Initiatives: Listing of state-based water conservation initiatives and requirements, which often include incentive and rebate opportunities.

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Training

The following training resources are available to help agency water efficiency initiatives:

• Managing Water Assessment in Federal Facilities: Focused on managing the Water Assessment process in Federal facilities, this course assists the Federal Energy and Facility Manager to comply with executive orders and legislative mandates and meet the requirements of Section 432 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

• Water Management Training: E-learning module covering Federal water efficiency requirements and best practices. Course provides a comprehensive overview of Federal water management planning and implementation.

• Water Efficiency Planning and Implementation: FEMP First Thursday Seminar providing a strategic planning overview of developing and implementing a water efficiency program.

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State and Local Resources

The following state and local are available to help agency water efficiency initiatives:

• California Urban Water Conservation Council: Supports water conservation and efficiency efforts across the state of California through partnerships with utilities, public interest groups, and private entities. The organization's Web site offers up to date technical resources on many water efficient products and technologies.

• California Department of Water Resources: Provides financial and technical services for urban water use efficiency and water management activities such as leak detection, landscape, commercial, industrial, institutional, and the urban water management.

• City of Austin Texas Water Utility Water Conservation Office: Provides educational and technical resources in areas such as landscape irrigation, domestic fixtures, and rainwater harvesting.

• Water Conservation Guide for Commercial, Institutional and Industrial Users: Outlines water efficiency and management practices as recommended by the Office of the State Engineer for New Mexico.

• New Mexico Water Conservation Program: Provides information on water use and efficiency strategies and program in New Mexico. In addition, the organization has a conservation guide for commercial, industrial, and institutional user that can be used in any region.

• Pollution Prevention Assistance Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources: Offers free, confidential, and non-regulatory technical assistance on cost-effective ways to prevent, reduce, reuse, or recycle waste and conserve natural resources.

• Prince Georges' County, Maryland's Department of Environmental Resources: Nationally-recognized program to assist facilities and communities with managing storm water through innovative low-impact development techniques. The county has extensive information on designing bioretention facilities for residential, commercial, and institutional sites.

• Saving Water Partnership: An organization through local utilities in the Seattle and King County area of Washington State that provides water efficiency resources and educational outreach information.

• Colorado Water Wise Council: Provides educational outreach to facilitate the efficient use of water in Colorado, which provides useful technical materials on efficient landscape and irrigation.

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Associations and Educational Resources

The following associations and educational resources are available to help agency water efficiency initiatives:

• Alliance for Water Efficiency: Stakeholders-based national organization that serves as an authoritative advocate for water efficiency and sustainable use of water. The AWE promotes water efficiency through educational outreach and technical resources.

• American Water Works Association: International nonprofit scientific and educational society dedicated to the improvement of drinking water quality and supply. Founded in 1881, AWWA is the largest organization of water supply professionals in the world. AWWA also runs the Water Wiser Web site, which provides comprehensive information on water efficiency to consumers and utilities.

• WaterWiser – Water Efficiency Clearing House: Comprehensive clearinghouse of resources on water conservation, efficiency, and demand management for conservation professionals.

• Irrigation Association: Non-profit North American organization whose mission is to improve the products and practices used to manage water resources. The organization's areas of interest encompass the application, conservation, drainage, improvement, and recovery of water for economic and environmental enhancement in agriculture, turf grass, landscape and forestry.

• Water Environment Federation: Not-for-profit technical and educational organization created more than 75 years ago to continually assess and study the quality of the global water environment. WEF commissions research studies about the sources and causes of pollution, examines each new water treatment procedure, and educates the general public and water quality professionals on new techniques and solutions.

• The H2O House: Online resource for information on residential water conservation and efficiency.

• Food Service Technology Center: Clearinghouse of information on energy and water efficiency for commercial kitchen appliances. FSTC has developed testing standards for evaluating commercial kitchen appliances.

• National Drought Mitigation Center: Provides resources for drought mitigation through the University of Nebraska. NDMC has a dedicated Web site that provides technical resources on drought planning, mitigation, and monitoring. NDMC has a drought monitor map that provides up-to-date status on drought conditions across the U.S.

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