|
Demonstration 7
Water Conservation Retrofits and Appliance Rebates
Location: Reading, MA
Purpose:
- Demonstrate the use of a variety of water conservation devices
to reduce water use in the home.
- Reduce overall water demand on the Reading public water supply.
- Quantify the water savings associated with use of water-saving
devices, in various combinations.
Description: The town of Reading is implementing
a comprehensive water conservation program, which includes rebates,
residential water audits, retrofits of municipal buildings with
water-saving devices, an audit of the town’s water distribution
system, leak detection and repair, and an extensive public
education program. The town provided data to the Targeted
Watershed project on two of its residential water-conservation incentive
programs. These programs provide:
- Rebates for
low-flow toilets (up to $120), high-efficiency washing machines
(up to $200), and rain-sensor systems ($25)
- Water audits and free installation of water-saving devices,
tailored to the customers’ needs, including low-flow showerheads,
faucet aerators, and toilet tank volume displacement bags
The total program cost of $1 million is being funded through the
town’s water rates.
Data Collection and Analysis: Using water-billing
records, the Department of Conservation and Recreation compared water usage of participants – that is, those receiving rebates and/or retrofits –before and after implementation to:
- Identify the reduction in water demand achieved by each program overall, and
- Quantify the savings associated with varying levels of participation in both programs.
Partners: Town of Reading
Status: See Progress Report
Acknowledgements: DCR would like
to acknowledge the town of Reading for providing invaluable data
from this program to the Targeted Watershed project.
| 
