NewsLeak

The University of California at Berkeley has begun its long-term water conservation plans, and the university is off to an impressive start.

According to the Daily Californian, UC Berkeley replaced numerous toilets and urinals in University Hall a few months ago with efficient models, and the results are already noticeable. The changes prompted a 20 percent water-cost reduction in the building in June and July.

Long term, the university is attempting to cut its water usage by more than 65 million gallons by 2020, a 10 percent decrease. Other university buildings are currently being renovated with water-efficient toilets and urinals.

"That’s one of the quickest and easiest steps," said Ellen Hanak, a water expert at the Public Policy Institute of California, as reported by the news source. "It’s a good cost-effective measure, usually, because especially in facilities that have a lot of people using the restrooms, you’re saving a lot of gallons every day, and it also doesn’t rely on behavioral changes."

According to the Environmental Protectioin Agency, toilet models from 1992 or earlier are most likely not efficient. The EPA says purchasing a newer toilet can save a family of four more than $90 per year on water.

A Florida county's water authority has created a program to help high-use residents save money and participate in a county-wide water conservation effort.

According to Clay Today, the Clay Country Utility Authority is concerned that 14 percent of its customers use 42 percent of water billed each month. To lower the town's water use, CCUA officials are offering home water assessments to residents who request them.

Last year, the authority instituted a four-tier billing system where residents who consumed less water paid less per 1,000 gallons, and customers who used the most water were charged up to $4.50 for the same amount. While the system prompted many people to conserve water, not all customers changed their water-use habits.

"They use an incredible amount of water," said CCUA spokeswoman Celeste Laffy. "We haven't seen the type of conservation we had hoped. It's been completely different from what we anticipated."

As homeowners attempt to conserve water and change their usage tendency, experts suggest checking for leaks in pipes, faucets and toilets. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 10 percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons per day.

With the southern United States battling a historic drought, University of Georgia faculty have designed a new water conservation technology that will reduce agricultural consumption by an average of 15 percent.

According to Forbes, the researchers developed a GPS-based technology that enables farmers to more specifically point irrigation needs, turning off nozzles in areas that don't need water.

While the technology may currently be out of many farmer's price range, The Nature Conservancy, the University of Georgia and the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District are working to lower the cost with grants and federal funding.

"The equipment and technologies continue to be refined and improved with cost reduction as one goal," said David Reckford, Flint River basin project director for The Nature Conservancy in Georgia, as reported by the news source. "Major irrigation equipment providers are beginning to mass produce this equipment so that it can be offered more broadly, further bringing down the cost."

According to the National Atlas, irrigation accounts for one-third of the country's water use and is the largest consumer of fresh water in the United States.