Treasure Valley customers consuming less water than a decade ago; officials credit education

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — With the rise of resource-efficient home appliances and heightened awareness about conservation, water users in Idaho’s biggest metropolitan area are cutting down on the amount of water used each year, according to recent data.

United Water, the company that serves Boise and the surrounding Treasure Valley, reports water use in the market last year was down about 30,000 gallons annually for each metered customer compared with consumption rates recorded in 2000. Overall, that translates to a savings of about 2.5 billion gallons annually, or enough water to serve an additional 29,000 customers, according to a story published by The Idaho Statesman on Monday (http://bit.ly/ZKy5Fi).

The decline tracks the nationwide trend of reduced water use and efforts locally to reduce consumption and prevent contamination of the resource, officials said.

Water-efficient appliances, smaller family sizes, economic hard-times and more education about where water comes from have made people more conscious of their water usage.

“I just think it’s a general increased awareness in everything people do,” said Mark Snider, spokesman for United Water. “Whether it’s a more efficient vehicle to get better gas mileage, or being more cognizant of fixing a leaking faucet so those drips don’t become more of an issue.”

In Boise, the city has opened a resource education center dedicated to promoting responsible water stewardship. It’s now been five years since city officials launched the WaterShed Environmental Education Center, which has raised more than $1.2 million and educated about 100,000 people about conserving water.

The center offers interactive exhibits, education videos and activities teaching where water comes from and how Idahoans can protect it.

Cindy Busche, an education coordinator at the WaterShed, said it’s reassuring to see users concerned about shrinking water usage.

“It makes us feel like maybe our message is reaching the right people,” Busche said.

Since 1996, winter water use in Idaho has dropped about 100 gallons daily per customer, statistics show.

Just like the fuel and electricity markets, Snider said increases in the cost of doing business have forced United Water to raise rates, which may have also influenced customer habits.

People are also purchasing more efficient faucets, toilets and washing machines, he said. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports installing water-saving fixtures can help cut household consumption by 30 percent.

Changes in city code requiring land developers to use existing irrigation options have also reduced consumption, he said.