ALLIANCE FOR WATER EFFICIENCY

AWE is uniquely positioned to address future water efficiency challenges thanks to the dedication and diversity of our member network, as well as the comprehensive expertise of our Board of Directors, staff, and technical advisors. As the only non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to the efficient and sustainable use of water, conservation professionals rely on AWE for tools and resources to help them establish and improve water-saving programs.

Provide foundational support for AWE members and the water efficiency community.

Contribute to systemic policy change that assists, incentivizes, and requires water agencies, businesses, homeowners, and farms to significantly increase investments in water efficiency, conservation and demand reduction.

Support market transformations that help make water-efficient products, services, and practices the norm, rather than something requiring a special effort.

Increase municipal and corporate water efficiency and conservation implementation beyond the southwestern U.S., including Canada, with a focus on multi-benefits.

AWE and its member organizations advance equity and affordability in the water sector.

Just a few...

Convene forums for members, stakeholders, and staff to listen to and learn from each other, including an annual in-person symposium and virtual regional member meetings, roundtables, webinars, and other peer-to-peer forums.

Provide research and tools on water efficiency issues of critical importance; engage members in development and dissemination.

Advocate for state and provincial funding for water efficiency and conservation (WEC) programs and state policies that advance WEC, including state water loss control programs, plumbing efficiency standards, water conservation planning requirements, rules that support water reuse, coordination between land use and water planning, requiring rate structures that encourage WEC and keep costs of water for basic health and safety affordable including protections for the most vulnerable households, and encouraging collaboration between energy and water utilities.

Implement research and programs that advance market transformations, including verification of water savings.

Working with stakeholders, identify research projects, tools, and/or forums focused on the benefits of WEC in communities with water supply reliability.

Promote WEC as a strategy to improve water equity and affordability.

Ensure that water agencies assess opportunities to lower the economic burden of water for disadvantaged customers through water efficiency programs.

We have seven (7) FTE staff dedicated to providing technical assistance to and educating our members and the general public about water conservation and efficiency issues and practices. Our small, dedicated staff includes nationally-reorganized subject specialists, and marketing and nonprofit professionals. Furthermore, we have a network of international advisers that work with us on a project-by-project, goal-by-goal basis--better ensuring our success.

Our first decade has been marked by great successes. Through our battery of tools, including web resources, technical assistance, leadership in establishing efficiency-based codes and standards, research, convening of discussions at the highest levels, and political advocacy, we have helped our members and partners achieve conservation goals and system reliability, while minimizing the cost footprint for consumers.

And in 2022 alone, 1) AWE helped secure $400 million in the Federal Infrastructure Bill for water efficiency grants in the Western United States where a historic, prolonged drought continues; 2) AWE completed an analysis of commercial, industrial, and institutional landscape transformation projects, for which little data exists. These strategies are increasingly important as climate change exacerbates droughts that stress water supplies; 3) AWE evaluated water affordability challenges for low-income Long Beach, CA residents and opportunities to reduce their water bills with water-efficient fixtures. Also working with local water agencies, Kohler Co., and Whirlpool Corp. to install, at no-cost to residents, fixtures and appliances in low-income households; and 4) AWE evaluated the effectiveness of leak alerts, and found that utilities are generating significant water savings by using advanced meter technologies to identify and fix customer leaks.