08 Editorial 2
EDITORIAL
letter
Water & Wastes Digest Business-to-business communications for more than 100 years
pledge to conserve H
ow often do you find yourself in a situation in which someone asks: “So, you are in the water business … is it true that water is going to be the blue gold?” If you are like me, you probably find yourself in this situation on a regular basis. Questions typically vary, but those about water conservation seem to come up more and more frequently. Just recently, I found myself at a non-water industry social gathering discussing how to go about installing a rainwater harvesting barrel to help supplement irrigation and reduce storm water runoff. What a snooze, right? Wrong. With stats showing that a typical ½-in. rainfall would fill an approximately 50-gal rain barrel or that a 1-in. rainfall would yield a half-gallon of water per square foot of roof area, it seems difficult not to talk about rainwater harNeda Simeonova, editorial director vesting and water conservation. [email protected] The use of reclaimed water for irrigation and other purposes has been employed as a water conservation practice for many years, especially in water-stressed states in the South. Consumers are becoming increasingly comfortable with these practices as a way to extend water supplies. Rainwater harvesting may seem like a no-brainer, but that’s not always the case. As water becomes scarcer, regulators have begun scrutinizing rainwater harvesting more closely. Some states, like Colorado, prohibit rainwater harvesting, while others are considering requiring a permit for rainwater capture systems above a threshold amount or regulating rainwater harvesting altogether. Why is it that some states are more in tune with water conservation practices than others? Ultimately, it comes down to water availability, customer education and water pricing. As members of this industry we know very well that fixed water charges do not encourage conservation. In fact, studies show that water use decreases with water price increases. Inaccurate pricing, however, could not only result in financial hardships on low-income customers, but also negatively impact utility revenues. This is why many utilities turn to inclining block rates—where water price increases with higher blocks of water use—to maximize conservation while maintaining revenues. Customer involvement and education are other essential steps to the success of any conservation program. While effective water conservation begins with water providers, it ultimately ends with consumers. They need to see more pricing and water use information included on their bills, such as how their use compares to that of the utility’s average residential user. Customer reward programs also are a worthwhile conservation incentive. For example, it is important to reward customers for making cost-effective changes in water appliances and behavior through greater savings. Our water supplies are not endless. In order to ensure high-quality water availability for generations to come, everyone from the federal, to state, to local, to consumer level must make a pledge to conserve water. And yes, water may indeed be the blue gold—and sooner than we think.
3030 W. Salt Creek Lane, Suite 201 Arlington Heights, IL 60005-5025 847.298.6622 • F: 847.390.0408 www.wwdmag.com
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editorial Director
Managing Editor
Caitlin Cunningham
Associate Editor
Elizabeth Lisican
Associate Editor
Kate Cline
Associate Editor
Leslie Streicher
Designer
Neda Simeonova
Robin Hicks
Adv ertising & Sales 6900 E. Camelback, Suite 400 • Scottsdale, AZ 85251 tel: 480.941.0510 • fax: 480.423.1443 Integrated Media Consultant
David Rairigh [email protected] (phone x25)
Integrated Media Consultant
Fred Ferris [email protected] (Arlington Heights office, 847.391.1003)
Integrated Media Consultant John Rogier [email protected] (Arlington Heights office, 847.391.1053) Integrated Media Consultant
Celeste Scarfi [email protected] (phone x12)
Classified Sales Manager
Donna Aly [email protected] (phone x13)
Reprint Coordinator Adrienne Miller [email protected] (Arlington Heights office, 847.391.1036) List Rental Contact John Ganis 914.368.1024 Advertising Coordinator Erica Rivera [email protected] (Arlington Heights office, 847.391.1049)
M a nagement Vice President/Group Publisher
Dennis Martyka
Associate Publisher
VP Custom Publishing
VP Events
Harry Urban
VP Information Technology
Joel Hughes
Director of Audience Development
Doug Riemer
Director of Creative Services & Promotions
Chairperson
K.S. Gillette
President/CEO
E.S. Gillette
Sr. Vice President
Sr. Vice President, CFO
Chairman Emeritus
Greg Tres Diane Vojcanin
Sandi Stevenson
Corporate A. O’Neill Dave Shreiner H.S. Gillette (1922-2003)
Editorial Adv isory Board
Dr. YuJung Chang
Paul Rice
HDR Engineering Inc. Siemens Water Technologies
Dawn C. Kristof Champney WWEMA
Tom Mills
Severn Trent Services
Dr. Larry W. Moore
University of Memphis
Andy Richardson
Greeley & Hansen LLC
Chuck Reading
REACO Associates LLC
Statement of Purpose Water & Wastes Digest is published exclusively for the 85,000+ decision makers in the municipal and industrial water, wastewater and water pollution industries. These individuals actively design, specify, buy, operate and maintain the equipment, chemicals and services used for water treatment. Editorial content in this audited publication highlights new products and technologies concerning the supply, collection, treatment and distribution of drinking water; the collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater; and hazardous waste pollution control. A product directory is included in the annual June Buyer’s Guide.
Scranton Gillette Communications’ Infrastructure Team
COMING UP NEXT MONTH... • Infrastructure Management & Maintenance
8
• Filtration Systems • Water Reuse
• Customer Service Rates/Billing
• Corrosion Control
• Storm Water Treatment
• Flow Control
Industrial Water & Wastes Digest
February 2012 • Water & Wastes Digest
letter
Water & Wastes Digest Business-to-business communications for more than 100 years
pledge to conserve H
ow often do you find yourself in a situation in which someone asks: “So, you are in the water business … is it true that water is going to be the blue gold?” If you are like me, you probably find yourself in this situation on a regular basis. Questions typically vary, but those about water conservation seem to come up more and more frequently. Just recently, I found myself at a non-water industry social gathering discussing how to go about installing a rainwater harvesting barrel to help supplement irrigation and reduce storm water runoff. What a snooze, right? Wrong. With stats showing that a typical ½-in. rainfall would fill an approximately 50-gal rain barrel or that a 1-in. rainfall would yield a half-gallon of water per square foot of roof area, it seems difficult not to talk about rainwater harNeda Simeonova, editorial director vesting and water conservation. [email protected] The use of reclaimed water for irrigation and other purposes has been employed as a water conservation practice for many years, especially in water-stressed states in the South. Consumers are becoming increasingly comfortable with these practices as a way to extend water supplies. Rainwater harvesting may seem like a no-brainer, but that’s not always the case. As water becomes scarcer, regulators have begun scrutinizing rainwater harvesting more closely. Some states, like Colorado, prohibit rainwater harvesting, while others are considering requiring a permit for rainwater capture systems above a threshold amount or regulating rainwater harvesting altogether. Why is it that some states are more in tune with water conservation practices than others? Ultimately, it comes down to water availability, customer education and water pricing. As members of this industry we know very well that fixed water charges do not encourage conservation. In fact, studies show that water use decreases with water price increases. Inaccurate pricing, however, could not only result in financial hardships on low-income customers, but also negatively impact utility revenues. This is why many utilities turn to inclining block rates—where water price increases with higher blocks of water use—to maximize conservation while maintaining revenues. Customer involvement and education are other essential steps to the success of any conservation program. While effective water conservation begins with water providers, it ultimately ends with consumers. They need to see more pricing and water use information included on their bills, such as how their use compares to that of the utility’s average residential user. Customer reward programs also are a worthwhile conservation incentive. For example, it is important to reward customers for making cost-effective changes in water appliances and behavior through greater savings. Our water supplies are not endless. In order to ensure high-quality water availability for generations to come, everyone from the federal, to state, to local, to consumer level must make a pledge to conserve water. And yes, water may indeed be the blue gold—and sooner than we think.
3030 W. Salt Creek Lane, Suite 201 Arlington Heights, IL 60005-5025 847.298.6622 • F: 847.390.0408 www.wwdmag.com
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editorial Director
Managing Editor
Caitlin Cunningham
Associate Editor
Elizabeth Lisican
Associate Editor
Kate Cline
Associate Editor
Leslie Streicher
Designer
Neda Simeonova
Robin Hicks
Adv ertising & Sales 6900 E. Camelback, Suite 400 • Scottsdale, AZ 85251 tel: 480.941.0510 • fax: 480.423.1443 Integrated Media Consultant
David Rairigh [email protected] (phone x25)
Integrated Media Consultant
Fred Ferris [email protected] (Arlington Heights office, 847.391.1003)
Integrated Media Consultant John Rogier [email protected] (Arlington Heights office, 847.391.1053) Integrated Media Consultant
Celeste Scarfi [email protected] (phone x12)
Classified Sales Manager
Donna Aly [email protected] (phone x13)
Reprint Coordinator Adrienne Miller [email protected] (Arlington Heights office, 847.391.1036) List Rental Contact John Ganis 914.368.1024 Advertising Coordinator Erica Rivera [email protected] (Arlington Heights office, 847.391.1049)
M a nagement Vice President/Group Publisher
Dennis Martyka
Associate Publisher
VP Custom Publishing
VP Events
Harry Urban
VP Information Technology
Joel Hughes
Director of Audience Development
Doug Riemer
Director of Creative Services & Promotions
Chairperson
K.S. Gillette
President/CEO
E.S. Gillette
Sr. Vice President
Sr. Vice President, CFO
Chairman Emeritus
Greg Tres Diane Vojcanin
Sandi Stevenson
Corporate A. O’Neill Dave Shreiner H.S. Gillette (1922-2003)
Editorial Adv isory Board
Dr. YuJung Chang
Paul Rice
HDR Engineering Inc. Siemens Water Technologies
Dawn C. Kristof Champney WWEMA
Tom Mills
Severn Trent Services
Dr. Larry W. Moore
University of Memphis
Andy Richardson
Greeley & Hansen LLC
Chuck Reading
REACO Associates LLC
Statement of Purpose Water & Wastes Digest is published exclusively for the 85,000+ decision makers in the municipal and industrial water, wastewater and water pollution industries. These individuals actively design, specify, buy, operate and maintain the equipment, chemicals and services used for water treatment. Editorial content in this audited publication highlights new products and technologies concerning the supply, collection, treatment and distribution of drinking water; the collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater; and hazardous waste pollution control. A product directory is included in the annual June Buyer’s Guide.
Scranton Gillette Communications’ Infrastructure Team
COMING UP NEXT MONTH... • Infrastructure Management & Maintenance
8
• Filtration Systems • Water Reuse
• Customer Service Rates/Billing
• Corrosion Control
• Storm Water Treatment
• Flow Control
Industrial Water & Wastes Digest
February 2012 • Water & Wastes Digest
