News Release Archive

Reclamation presents water conservation award to City of Lake Havasu City

Media Contact: Bob Walsh, 702-293-8421, rwalsh@lc.usbr.gov
Tina Mullis, 702-293-8139, tmullis@lc.usbr.gov

For Release: July 12, 2005

Robert Johnson, Regional Director of the Bureau of Reclamation's Lower Colorado Region, will present the City of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., a water conservation award at its City Council meeting in recognition of the City's demonstrated success in implementing its 2000-2005 water conservation plan.

"Lake Havasu City has made great strides in implementing its water conservation plan," Johnson said. "Because of the City's dedication to water conservation and its outstanding efforts in implementing that five-year plan, I am pleased to recognize them with this award."

Johnson, who presented the award on behalf of Reclamation Commissioner John Keys, noted that the City's efforts have resulted in a five percent decrease in the amount of water used by its residents on a per capita basis. This was accomplished by implementing several water conservation measures, including a distribution system audit and public outreach programs.

Through the distribution system audit program, the city had surveyed roughly 150 miles of distribution lines and pinpointed 69 leaks through the end of 2004. In December 2003 alone, the program identified 17 leaks that, left unrepaired, would have resulted in a loss of more than 5.2 million gallons of water a year. Since the water conservation plan was implemented in August 2000, the leak detection program has resulted in a water savings of approximately 190,000 gallons per day, or almost 213 acre-feet per year. One acre-foot of water will serve four to six people for one year. Johnson noted that the City is continuing its leak detection program this year.

The City also significantly expanded its public outreach and water user audit programs. Overall efforts from implementation of the conservation plan will result in an estimated savings of 765 acre feet of water.

Through its Water Conservation Field Services Program, Reclamation has partnered with the City on its water conservation efforts since 1999. The Water Conservation Field Services Program is designed to encourage water conservation, help water agencies develop and implement effective water management and conservation plans, coordinate with state and other local conservation program efforts, and generally foster improved water management on a regional, statewide, and watershed basis.

In 2004 Reclamation provided the City approximately $25,000 to assist with its water conservation efforts. This year, Reclamation is providing $52,974, to continue these efforts and update the Water Conservation Plan for the next five-year period. To leverage the money and resources available for water conservation efforts, recipients of grants under the Water Conservation Field Services Program provide a 50 percent match of the Federal funds provided.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.