October, 22 2008, 12:00am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Amy Kober, American Rivers, 206-898-3864
Jenny Hoffner, American Rivers, 404-373-3602 or 404-784-5771
Angela Dicianno, 202-345-7550 x3103 or 202-674-1578
Water Efficiency Can Save the Southeast Over $700 million and New Water Supply for Over One Million Residents
American Rivers releases report, Hidden Reservoir: Why Water Efficiency is the Best Solution for the Southeast
ATLANTA
The Southeast can save over $700 million and new water supply for over one million residents by embracing water efficiency solutions like stopping leaks and upgrading old buildings. That's according to the new report, Hidden Reservoir: Why Water Efficiency is the Best Solution for the Southeast by American Rivers, the nation's leading river conservation organization. The report outlines nine proven, timely and cost-effective steps that local leaders can take to save water and help ensure their rivers remain valuable community assets.
"Water efficiency is the 21st century solution to the drought-stricken Southeast's water problems and must be the backbone of the region's water supply strategy," said Rebecca Wodder, president of American Rivers.
"In this time of economic uncertainty and shrinking budgets, water efficiency is the answer for local leaders who want cost-effective, proven, and immediate water supply solutions," Wodder said.
Water efficiency is far cheaper than getting supply through new dams -- dams cost up to 8500 times more than water efficiency.
The report calculates the potential savings for four Southeast cities:
Metro Atlanta, Georgia
- Water efficiency measures could yield between 130 and 210 million gallons a day (MGD), a 21-33% savings.
- Metro Atlanta could save between $300 million and $700 million by pursuing water efficiency to secure water supply as compared to building new dams.
- Total water saved is more than an entire new Lake Lanier which provides 178 MGD to Metro Atlanta.
- Metro Atlanta could eliminate the need for all four of its planned reservoirs (totaling 98 MGD) two times over.
- This water savings could provide water for 790,000 to 1,280,000 new residents.
Charlotte, North Carolina
- Water efficiency measures could yield between 31 and 47 MGD, a 21-33% savings.
- Charlotte could save between $75 million and $160 million by pursuing water efficiency to secure water supply as compared to building new dams.
- This water savings could provide water for 135,000 to 205,240 new residents.
Raleigh, North Carolina
- Water efficiency measures could yield between 13 and 20 MGD, a 27-40% savings.
- Raleigh could save between $30 million and $60 million by pursuing water efficiency to secure water supply as compared to building new dams.
- This water savings could provide water for 80,000 to 120,000 new residents.
Columbia, South Carolina
- Water efficiency measures could yield between 18 and 27 MGD, a 18-27% savings.
- Columbia could save between $45 million and $100 million by pursuing water efficiency to secure water supply as compared to building new dams.
- This water savings could provide water for 75,000 to 120,000 new residents.
The report outlines nine key policies and practices that local governments and utilities should adopt:
1. Stop leaks: Over six billion gallons of water are lost each day in the U.S. due to aging water distribution systems. Leaks should be fixed to stop this massive waste of water.
2. Price water right: Water should be priced to cover costs, encourage efficiency and ensure access to clean drinking water. We can do this, and still provide water for low-income residents at a reduced rate.
3. Meter all water users: Water meters should be installed in all new homes, multi-family apartment buildings, and businesses so water users can measure and monitor their consumption.
4. Retrofit all buildings: If all U.S. households installed water-efficient fixtures and appliances, the country would save more than 8.2 billion gallons per day enough water supply for all eight Southeastern states or 20% of total US consumption.
5. Landscape to minimize water waste: On average, U.S. homes consume 30 percent of their water outdoors -- watering lawns, thirsty plants and trees. By installing more innovative and efficient irrigation systems and drought tolerant plants, communities would see 25% savings on outdoor water use.
6. Increase public understanding: Communities should equip individuals with information about their own water use patterns, and educate the public about smart, simple water efficiency solutions.
7. Build smart for the future: Homes, businesses and neighborhoods should be designed to capture and reuse stormwater, and to use gray water and rainwater for non-potable purposes. Building codes and ordinances should be updated to support or require the use of the most water efficiency technologies.
8. Return water to the river: To maintain healthy flows, a portion of water efficiency "savings" should be returned to the river to serve as a "savings account" for a not so rainy day.
9. Involve water users in decisions: New opportunities for significant water savings can be found when all the stakeholders are at the table. Involving water users can increase efficiency.
Scientists predict that global warming is bringing longer and more intense droughts to the Southeast U.S. That, along with increasing populations, will place unprecedented strain on the region's water supplies. Hidden Reservoir is designed to help communities become more resilient in the face of these challenges. By adopting water efficiency, communities can help ensure that they have a clean, sustainable water supply and healthy rivers for years to come.
"The Southeast is sitting on an enormous and forgotten water supply, and it's hiding in plain sight. There is a 'hidden reservoir' in our laundry rooms, kitchens and bathrooms," said Wodder. "This is the guarantee of water efficiency. By improving how we use and manage water, we can tap a brand new source of supply."
"Clean water is the lifeblood of the Southeast's economy, environment and quality of life. We have a responsibility to manage our water wisely for today's communities and future generations. It's time to make water efficiency our first source of water supply."
Report available at www.AmericanRivers.org/WaterEfficiencyReport
American Rivers is the only national organization standing up for healthy rivers so our communities can thrive. Through national advocacy, innovative solutions and our growing network of strategic partners, we protect and promote our rivers as valuable assets that are vital to our health, safety and quality of life. Founded in 1973, American Rivers has more than 65,000 members and supporters nationwide, with offices in Washington, DC and the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, California and Northwest regions.
LATEST NEWS
New Research Details How Israel Has Used US Weapons to Commit War Crimes
The report from Amnesty International USA comes ahead of a May 8 deadline for the Biden administration to certify that Israel is complying with international and domestic laws.
Apr 30, 2024
With just over a week until the deadline for the Biden administration to certify that Israel's use of U.S.-supplied weapons is adhering to domestic and international law, Amnesty International USA submitted a report to the federal government detailing how American bombs and other weapons have been used in Israeli attacks that could constitute war crimes.
The White House, said the human rights group, must inform Congress that Israel is violating humanitarian laws by May 8 as part of the National Security Memorandum on Safeguards and Accountability with Respect to Transferred Defense Articles and Defense Services (NSM-20) process, and "must immediately suspend the transfer of arms to the Israeli government."
Amnesty's report focuses on several attacks on civilian infrastructure in which Israel used bombs and other weapons made by U.S. companies including Boeing, as well as practices used by the Israeli government and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) since they began bombarding Gaza in October in retaliation for a Hamas-led attack.
Four of the IDF attacks took place in Rafah, where Israel is reportedly preparing a ground offensive after forcibly displacing more than 1 million Palestinians to the southern city and carrying out airstrikes for months.
The four strikes in December and January killed at least 95 civilians, including 42 children, despite the U.S. and Israel's repeated claims that the IDF is targeting Hamas fighters.
"The evidence is clear and overwhelming: the government of Israel is using U.S.-made weapons in violation of international humanitarian and human rights law, and in a manner that is inconsistent with U.S. law and policy."
"In all four attacks," reported Amnesty, "there was no indication that the residential buildings hit could be considered legitimate military objectives or that people in the buildings were military targets, raising concerns that these strikes were direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects and must therefore be investigated as war crimes."
The strikes, which included one on a five-story building inhabited by the Nofal family, were carried out with GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs—made in the U.S. by Boeing.
"The evidence is clear and overwhelming: the government of Israel is using U.S.-made weapons in violation of international humanitarian and human rights law, and in a manner that is inconsistent with U.S. law and policy," said Amanda Klasing, national director for government relations with Amnesty International USA. "In order to follow U.S. laws and policies, the United States must immediately suspend any transfer of arms to the government of Israel."
Boeing was also the manufacturer of Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) that were used in October 2023 in "two deadly, unlawful airstrikes on homes full of Palestinian civilians," according to satellite imagery examined by Amnesty's weapons experts and remote sensing analysts.
Those attacks killed 43 civilians, nearly half of whom were children.
Other patterns in Israel's assault on Gaza, including its use of a 24-hour mass evacuation notice early on in its current escalation, ordering more than 1.1 million people in Gaza City and northern Gaza to go to the southern part of the enclave; its use of indiscriminate attacks with both U.S.- and Israel-made weapons; its use of arbitrary "administrative detention"; and its denial of humanitarian assistance, all show that the Biden administration's continued material support for the IDF violates U.S. and international law, Amnesty said.
As progressives in the U.S. Congress have warned, Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2378-1) bars the federal government from providing military aid to any country that is blocking U.S. humanitarian aid.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's announcement on October 9, 2023 of a "complete siege on Gaza" with "no electricity, no food, no water, no gas" allowed in has deprived the enclave of equipment needed to provide healthcare to tens of thousands of people wounded in Israel's attacks, as well as pregnant women and newborns, the elderly, and people facing chronic illnesses. It has also placed Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinians at risk of a "government-engineered famine," said Amnesty, with dozens of people, including children, already having starved to death.
"It's shocking that the Biden administration continues to hold that the government of Israel is not violating international humanitarian law with U.S.-provided weapons when our research shows otherwise and international law experts disagree," said Klasing. "The International Court of Justice found the risk of genocide in Gaza is plausible and ordered provisional measures. President [Joe] Biden must end U.S. complicity with the government of Israel's grave violations of international law and immediately suspend the transfer of weapons to the government of Israel."
The report comes days after Biden signed a military aid package including $17 billion more for the IDF, after approving multiple weapons transfers to Israel since October.
Ahead of the May 8 NSM-20 deadline, a coalition of more than 90 lawyers—including at least 20 who work in the Biden administration—is preparing to send a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland warning that Israel's practices in Gaza likely violate the Arms Export Control Act, the Leahy Laws, and the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit disproportionate attacks on civilians.
While spokespeople for the Biden administration have repeatedly said publicly that the White House does not accept allegations that Israel has violated international humanitarian law—and made the U.S. complicit—the letter is just the latest sign of widening dissent within the government regarding Gaza.
Senior U.S. officials recently told Secretary of State Antony Blinken in an internal memo that Israel lacks credibility as it continues to claim it is adhering international law.
"This is a moment where the U.S. government is violating its own laws and policy," a Department of Justice staffer who signed the new letter, toldPolitico. "The administration may be seeing silence or only a handful of resignations, but they are really not aware of the magnitude of discontent and dissent among the rank and file."
Keep ReadingShow Less
Judge Fines Trump $9K, Warns of 'Incarceratory Punishment' for Next Gag Order Violation
The former president and presumptive 2024 GOP nominee is on trial in New York for allegedly falsifying records related to hush money payments to cover up sex scandals.
Apr 30, 2024
The New York judge presiding over former U.S. President Donald Trump's trial for allegedly falsifying business records on Tuesday held the presumptive 2024 GOP nominee in criminal contempt for repeatedly violating a gag order, fined him $9,000, and threatened to jail him if he does it again.
Judge Juan Merchan ordered Trump to pay $1,000 for each violation of the gag order and directed him to remove eight offending social media posts.
"Defendant violated the order by making social media posts about known witnesses pertaining to their participation in this criminal proceeding and by making public statements about jurors in this criminal proceeding," Merchan wrote in his 8-page decision.
Trump is "hereby warned that the court will not tolerate continued willfull violations of its lawful orders and that if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose an incarceratory punishment," the judge added.
Trump faces 34 felony charges for falsifying records related to alleged hush money payments to cover up sex scandals during the 2016 election cycle.
Overall, Trump is charged with 88 federal and state felonies related to this case and three others that stem from interfering with and trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election, and mishandling classified documents.
Keep ReadingShow Less
Columbia Students Occupy Historic Campus Building, Renaming It After Child Killed by IDF
"Students and community members are risking suspension and arrest to end the true state of emergency on campus, Columbia's complicity in the genocide in Gaza."
Apr 30, 2024
Pro-Palestinian student protesters at Columbia University early Tuesday occupied a campus building with a long history of anti-war and anti-apartheid demonstrations, storming the hall and renaming it after a 6-year-old girl who was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza earlier this year.
Video footage shows dozens of students celebrating as other protesters who entered Hamilton Hall unfurl a banner that reads "Hind's Hall," in honor of 6-year-old Hind Rajab.
Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), a student-led advocacy group, said in a statement following the takeover that Columbia's leadership "forced protesters to escalate by contributing to a genocide while refusing to follow baseline standards of conduct that make negotiation possible."
"We call on the press and members of the public to hold Columbia accountable for any disproportionate response to students' actions today," the statement continued. "To Columbia's administrators and trustees: Do not incite another Kent or Jackson State by bringing soldiers and police officers with weapons onto our campus. Students' blood will be on your hands."
Taking over Hamilton Hall as done in 1968, Columbia students unfurl a banner that reads "Hind's Hall," in reference to Hind Rajab, a six-year-old girl killed by Israeli forces.
Hundreds of students cheer as the banner is revealed, erupting into chants to "Free Palestine." pic.twitter.com/Oi8WgdZmqf
— Prem Thakker (@prem_thakker) April 30, 2024
The occupation came after Columbia began suspending students who refused to leave their pro-Palestinian encampment by administrators' Monday deadline of 2:00 pm ET. Columbia and other universities across the U.S. are facing growing backlash for violently cracking down on demonstrations calling on the schools to divest from companies profiting off Israel's assault on Gaza.
The Associated Press reported that Columbia students on Tuesday morning "locked arms in front of Hamilton Hall" and "carried furniture and metal barricades to the building, one of several that was occupied during a 1968 civil rights and anti-Vietnam War protest on the campus."
Following the takeover, Columbia limited campus access to students and essential employees, barring members of the press from entering to cover the ongoing demonstrations.
CUAD said Tuesday that students intend to "remain at Hind's Hall until Columbia concedes" to organizers' "three demands: divestment, financial transparency, and amnesty."
"Students and community members are risking suspension and arrest to end the true state of emergency on campus, Columbia's complicity in the genocide in Gaza," the group added. "Taking back our own campus is the only and last response to an institution that obeys neither its own 'rules' nor ethical mandates."
Keep ReadingShow Less
Most Popular