Abstract
Residential irrigation with reclaimed water is one method to reduce potable water withdrawals in the United States. However, little research has examined how customers use this often low‐cost or free water. This study evaluates the change in water use for 510 reclaimed water customers who were converted from a flat rate to a commodity charge. Using actual water use data and an irrigation model, two metrics of efficiency were developed: portion of landscape needs satisfied and efficiency of application. After the commodity charge began, the reclaimed water customers decreased their use by 47% and improved the efficiency of their application by 12%. However, annually, between 14 and 27% of the users increased use compared with the flat‐rate period. The impact of irrigable area was also evaluated and showed that customers with smaller irrigable areas were less efficient (26%) than those with larger irrigable areas (52%).
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
