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Investing in the Future - Water Conservation

For Immediate Release

December 14, 1998

(WEST TRENTON, N.J.) - The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) has an ambitious water conservation program to reduce water demand. The program, which is recognized both nationally and internationally, has resulted in significant cost savings, environmental protection, and improved drought preparedness.

The DRBC estimates savings of some 80 million gallons a day of water by the year 2020 through the continued implementation of its water conservation performance standards for plumbing fixtures and fittings. This reduction should save or defer from $250 million to $400 million in additional capital costs for water supply and wastewater treatment plants.

The regulation requires the installation of low consumption toilets and other water-saving plumbing devices in new construction and remodeling projects in the basin.

The DRBC also has regulations requiring large water purveyors to develop systematic programs to monitor and control leakage.

New York City, which draws roughly half its water from the Delaware Basin, has taken similar conservation steps. It is nearing completion of a customer metering program to get a better handle on water consumption and has installed over 1.3 million new low-flow toilets through a rebate program. The savings are permanent and have resulted in a 13 percent reduction in water use since 1994.

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