The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has released a new reform proposal for water resources, entitled Water for Life. While we generally think of the UK as a relatively wet place, Defra identified a number of water challenges facing the nation, including over-abstraction from rivers and groundwater basins, point and diffuse source [...]
Archive for the ‘Water conservation’ Category
UK Government Releases Water Resources Reform Proposal: Water for Life
Posted in Climate change, Privatization, United Kingdom, Water companies, Water conservation, Water markets/transfers, Water rights on December 14, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
New Statute on Local Graywater Standards in California
Posted in Water conservation, Water recycling/reuse on October 26, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
On October 8, 2011, Governor Brown signed into law Assembly Bill No. 849, which amends California Water Code § 14877.3 related to local agency standards for graywater systems. Graywater systems allow reuse of wastewater within residences, primarily through the reuse of bathing and laundry water to flush toilets or irrigate landscapes. The current statute allows a [...]
Collision Course: Proposition 218 and Conservation Water Rates in California
Posted in Economics of water, Water conservation on September 13, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Over the past decade, urban water utilities in California have sought to adopt rate structures that combine, to the extent possible, the goals of financial stability and incentives for efficient water use. This is often accomplished through shifting a relatively larger proportion of costs from fixed service charges to variable commodity rates, dividing commodity rates [...]
Drought to Persist in Southern US
Posted in Climate change, Desalination, Georgia, Texas, Transboundary waters, United States, Water conservation, Water markets/transfers, Water planning, Water recycling/reuse on February 15, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
On February 10, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published new maps showing drought conditions across the southeastern US. States that are experiencing particular drought include Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia and Florida. In all of these states except Arkansas, drought is expected to persist or worsen over the spring of 2011 and possibly beyond.Combined [...]
National Water Policy in Australia
Posted in Australia, Climate change, Desalination, Economics of water, Public utilities regulation, Transboundary waters, Water conservation, Water markets/transfers, Water recycling/reuse, Water rights on August 18, 2010 | 4 Comments »
In my last post I promised a report on water in Australia, and now that I have returned from the trip (OK, a couple weeks ago, but I had work to do!), this is the first of hopefully several posts. It was a great tour; I met many wonderful people and learned much.
