• Foundational, Operations, Understanding, Informational, Support, and Control best practice
• Utility operations - implemented by water utilities for their own customers’ benefit • Customer participation – not applicable
Overview
A conservation coordinator is vital for every utility aiming to reduce water demand. A “go to” person for water conservation is essential to the successful implementation and management of water conservation programs. For large water utilities, the job of water conservation coordinator (or conservation manager) is a full time job and may involve managing a staff and/or contractors. Small utilities may not have sufficient resources to have a dedicated conservation coordinator. Small agencies should select a staff member who has other primary assignments to be the designated conservation coordinator – the person responsible for planning and implementing water conservation efforts.
Ideally, a conservation coordinator needs to have equal footing with other resource planning divisions. A conservation coordinator who cannot sit at the table with other managers will only coordinate what is given and not be part of the supply discussion.
Why a Best Practice?
Successful conservation programs need leadership. The fundamental responsibilities of a water conservation coordinator or program manager are to (AWWA 2006):
• Develop (or supervise development of) the utility’s water conservation plan • Organize and direct implementation of the conservation plan.
• Track, monitor, and evaluate water conservation programs.
Establishing a water conservation coordinator is a foundational best practice for water utilities. A conservation coordinator impacts utility operations, improves customer understanding of conservation, assists in development and dissemination of information, develops and supports conservation planning and program activities, and when necessary assists in implementing mandatory demand restrictions.
Water conservation coordination was one of the BMPs identified by the Metro Mayor’s Caucus (Metro Mayors Caucus et. al. 2005). The Metro Mayor’s Caucus is a team of 39 municipalities in the greater Denver area that work to foster collaboration and cooperation on multi-jurisdictional issues. Water is one of their main areas of emphasis. By identifying conservation coordinator as a best practice, the Caucus highlighted the importance of this practice.
State Planning Requirements
Colorado’s water conservation planning requirement (CRS 37-60-126) does not specifically reference a water conservation coordinator. However, a water conservation coordinator would help facilitate all aspects of CRS 37-60-126 starting with the creation of the conservation plan.
Applicability
The concept of a water conservation coordinator applies to all water utilities. Not all utilities have the budget and resources to hire a full time (or even part time) water conservation
coordinator for their staff. In these cases, the utility should select a staff member who has other primary assignments to be the designated conservation coordinator – the “go to” person
responsible for planning and implementing water conservation efforts. Implementation
Hiring Staff
Hiring or designating a water conservation coordinator is implemented by water utilities using standard hiring procedures or work assignment protocols.
What are the qualifications required for a water conservation coordinator? Typical qualifications for a water conservation coordinator include the following (adapted from a recent job posting): Knowledge of:
• Principle and practices of public administration, particularly municipal government. • Public administrative research methods, techniques, and methods of report presentation. • The organization of highly complex resource management programs.
• Water conservation laws, regulations, practices, and techniques. • Environmental planning.
• Landscape water efficiency practices. Ability to:
• Conduct original research and to make sound administrative analyses relating to policy and management problems.
• Communicate verbally with customers, clients, and the public in face-to-face, one-to-one settings, in group settings and using a telephone.
• Comprehend and make inferences from written material.
• Produce written documents with clearly organized thoughts with proper sentence construction, punctuation, and grammar.
Additional requirements:
• This position requires the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess a valid drivers' license and have an acceptable driving record. Use of a personal vehicle for City business will be prohibited if the employee is not authorized to drive a City vehicle or if the employee does not have personal insurance coverage.
Acceptable experience and training:
• A bachelor's degree or associates degree in business or public administration,
environmental science, or in any field which specializes in the management of natural resources, or a related field; one to three years of experience in water or resource
conservation.10 Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.
• Landscape Irrigation Auditor certification; Horticulture, Landscape Architecture or Design, and Turfgrass Management certification or equivalent.
Other job characteristics:
• Frequent driving in city traffic.
• Occasional confrontations from angry customers. • Occasional work evenings and weekends as necessary.
• Subject to call back to work related to emergencies or public relations issues.
Additional experience and characteristics that are applicable to a water conservation coordinator include:
• Experience with contracting.
• Experience with hiring and management. • Experience with budget management.
• Knowledge of landscape and irrigation practices.
• Knowledge of residential and non-residential indoor conservation. Part-time conservation coordination
Conservation coordination is a full-time job, but at smaller utilities, the conservation
coordinator’s duties may be added to an existing staff position’s duties. Several approaches can help:
•Focus resources: There are many resources available. Limiting resources can save time. This guide of best practices is a good starting point. Consider purchasing the Handbook of Water
Use and Conservation by Amy Vickers. This text is well organized and readable. Newsletters
and other periodicals can provide conservation information, but just as importantly, periodic information can be a regular nudge to keep conservation in mind. Many newsletters are free by email, such as Colorado WaterWise’s newsletter (signup at
http://coloradowaterwise.org//index.php?option=com_acajoom&act=subone&listid=2&Itemid =224).
•Use proven methods: Original ideas are great, but not necessarily efficient. If another utility’s conservation plan looks feasible, use it as a template. Large utilities around the state have
10
Currently only a very few college level training programs specifically offer courses in water conservation and resource management. One of the more developed programs offered is through Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon.
detailed conservation plans and parts of those plans may be adaptable to smaller utilities. Be sure not to infringe on copyrighted material, such as copying an advertising campaign. Water Savings and Other Benefits
Hiring or designating a water conservation coordinator does not directly result in water savings. A conservation coordinator facilitates and implements programs, improves customer
understanding of conservation, assists in development and dissemination of information,
develops and supports conservation planning and program activities, and when necessary assists in implementing mandatory demand restrictions.
Goals and Benchmarks
The goal for each utility should be to have a staff member designated to be in charge of water conservation planning and implementation, even if this person’s primary work responsibility is in another area.
Other benefits
A conservation coordinator facilitates and implements programs, improves customer understanding of conservation, assists in development and dissemination of information,
develops and supports conservation planning and program activities, and when necessary assists in implementing mandatory demand restrictions.
Costs Utility costs
Hiring a conservation coordinator is like hiring any other full time utility staff member. The annual salary for a conservation coordinator starts around $40,000 and increases depending upon experience and the level of responsibility associated with the position. Large utilities have a conservation staff with a conservation manager whose salary will be at the utility management level. Additional costs that must be considered include benefits, retirement contributions, office space, equipment, and all other costs associated with hiring an additional staff member.
Customer costs
There are no direct costs to the customer associated with hiring or designating a water conservation coordinator.
Resources and Examples Resources
Numerous websites offer useful information for prospective and current water conservation coordinators. Some of the better resources are available at the following sites:
• Alliance for Water Efficiency – www.a4we.org • American Water Works Association – www.awwa.org
• Colorado Water Conservation Board - http://cwcb.state.co.us/Conservation/ • WaterWiser – www.waterwiser.org
• California Urban Water Conservation Council – www.cuwcc.org • Lane Community College – www.lanecc.edu
• Colorado WaterWise offers opportunities for networking with other conservation professionals and has an excellent newsletter covering conservation issues. Sign up at: http://coloradowaterwise.org//index.php?option=com_acajoom&act=subone&listid=2&It emid=224
• Amy Vickers’ book Handbook of Water Use and Conservation (WaterPlow Press 2001) should be required reading for anyone interested in becoming a utility water conservation coordinator.
Examples
City of Fort Collins
Fort Collins has had a staff person dedicated to water conservation programs since 1977. The Fort Collins water conservation coordinator is responsible for managing and implementing a diverse program which includes public education and information, an increasing block rate billing structure and seasonal rates for commercial customers, rebates for efficient residential clothes washers, an innovative zero-interest loan program, irrigation audits, several ordinances, and a utility water loss detection program.
City of Greeley
Since 1997 the City of Greeley has had a full time water conservation coordinator to manage the city’s water efficiency efforts. In Greeley the water conservation coordinator manages a
$500,000 budget and supervises seasonal staff. The conservation coordinator co-authored the city’s water conservation plan and implements Greeley’s water conservation program which includes both indoor and outdoor programs geared to the residential and non-residential sectors. City of Glenwood Springs
The City of Glenwood Springs does not have a full time staff member dedicated to water
conservation because of the limited staff resources available at the utility. In Glenwood Springs, the water and wastewater treatment supervisor has assigned additional duties as the water
conservation program lead. This designated staff member assisted with development of the water conservation plan and has responsibility for ensuring that all plan elements are implemented.