Conserving water in the commercial, industrial, and institutional sector

Solano County Water Agency, a water wholesaler in California, wanted to implement a CII water conservation program for its non-residential customers to improve water use by this group, and to respond to a statewide water conservation task force.

To start, our team conducted a survey of both indoor water needs and outdoor use for large irrigated landscapes. This led to the development and implementation of a large landscape irrigation audit program, the ability to successfully identify and target older multi-family dwellings for plumbing upgrades, and the creation of a flexible rebate program for large landscapes and specialized water using equipment.

The program is currently implementing the first phase of a water efficiency program for the restaurant industry, which focuses on upgrades to new water and energy efficient technologies. One element of this program is an efficiency dipper well pilot study which will measure actual point-of-use water consumption before and after the installation of this efficiency technology. An additional stakeholder in this program is the County Health Department, and GHD is collaborating with them to address impacts of the program as related to health regulations.

• Successful implementation of a CII water conservation program that complies with the memorandum of understanding of the then-active California Urban Water Conservation Council.
• In collaboration with the Agency, the County Health Department and Frontier Energy developed a restaurant water efficiency program, which is poised to enter the pilot study phase.
• GHD provided staff augmentation, program development, public outreach assistance, implementation services, and coordination between programs, subcontractors, and urban water retailers. GHD also represents the Agency’s issues and concerns to a state-wide task force.