Programs
and Projects
Water Conservation
IRWA
provides regional leadership on water conservation. We focus
on outreach and education to three groups: municipalities, watershed residents, and businesses.
Educating
Municipalities on Water Conservation
IRWA is working with communities to promote innovative financing mechanisms to fund municipal water conservation programs. A recent report provides recommendations for a water demand mitigation program in the Town of Ipswich.
IRWA has also developed a resource for communities: Water Wise Communities - A Handbook for Municipal Managers in the Ipswich River Watershed. The handbook provides a checklist and fact sheets summarizing 20 tools that communities can use to manage water resources and restore the Ipswich River. Many of these tools address water conservation.
In November 2005, IRWA held the second River Restoration Conference, which focused on highlighting water conservation and low-impact development opportunities to municipal officials and interested members of the public. Conference proceedings are summarized here (Word format).
IRWA
developed a Regional Water Conservation Plan that provides
guidelines and minimum standards for municipal water conservation
programs in the watershed.
For
many years, IRWA and Mass Audubon produced a Water Conservation
Report Card grading each town's performance in six categories related to
water use, including water use trends, residential water use,
seasonal water use, non-account water, records and reports,
and water rates. The most recent Water Conservation Report Card is available here.
In 2003, IRWA worked with Energy New England to help several towns in the Ipswich River Watershed develop water conservation plans and conduct water audits. The work culminated in a water conservation plan for North Reading, a future demand and conservation potential report for Middleton, a rate structure assessment for Wilmington, and a water system audit to help the city of Lynn reduce unaccounted-for water.
IRWA is available to give workshops and make presentations to town boards and interested parties. Please contact IRWA at irwainfo@ipswichriver.org for more information.
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Educating
Residents on Water Conservation
Residents
of the Ipswich River watershed can take many steps to use
water efficiently. If you live in the watershed or in the
cities of Beverly, Salem, or Lynn, your water comes from the
Ipswich River, either directly or through
groundwater wells that divert water from the river.
Residential
water use has a major effect on the river’s health.
Did you know that the amount of water needed to restore natural
flows in the river – an estimated 14.4 million gallons
per day – is about equal to the estimated amount used
for lawn watering?
IRWA developed the Greenscapes North Shore program to educate watershed residents on ways to reduce their water use in lawns and gardens, and use environmentally friendly landscaping methods. Visit www.greenscapes.org for more information, to sign up for a free workshop, and to learn about discounts on goods and services.
Please click here for
tips on being water wise in your home, garden, and lawn. IRWA
has also produced educational brochures on water conservation. Please click here to download our “How to Save Water” and “Water-Wise Lawns” brochures.
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Educating Businesses on Water Conservation IRWA has developed a fact sheet (htm) to educate businesses about saving water and money through water conservation. The fact sheet includes links to success stories about Massachusetts businesses that are taking a leadership role on water efficiency and reuse.
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