Water Connection Charges: A Tool for Encouraging Water-Efficient Growth

Authored by
Amelia Nuding, Western Resource Advocated
Sharlene Leurig, Ceres
Jeff Hughes, UNC

One of the greatest challenges facing many U.S. communities today is supporting a growing population with limited water resources. Conservation is widely acknowledged as a critical part of the solution, but often utility conservation efforts are heavily focused on existing customers and ignore new customers at the crux of the challenge. This report from our partners at Ceres highlights the extent to which water connection charges are encouraging water-saving design in new construction and landscaping before ground is broken.