Information on What You and Your Community Can Do To Use Water More Efficiently

For more information on what you and your community can do to use water more efficiently, contact:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460

For more information on pollution prevention programs at U.S. EPA, contact:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Pollution Prevention
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460

United States: 20W-0002
Environmental Protection Agency
July 1990

OW (WH-556): OPPE OPM-222

Preventing Pollution Through Efficient Water Use

How Efficient Water Use Helps Prevent Pollution

Using water more efficiently can help prevent pollution as well as protect and conserve our finite water resources. More efficient water use by you and your community has many other benefits.

Fewer Pollutants

Using less water reduces the amount of waste-water discharged into our lakes, streams, rivers, and marine waters.

The amount of pollutants wastewater carries can also be reduced, as treatment efficiency improves.

Recycled process water can reduce pollutants from industry.

More efficient irrigation can minimize runoff of agricultural pollutants and reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides.

Protection of Aquatic Habitats

Protection of Drinking Water Sources

Energy Conservation

Other Reasons to Use Water Wisely

Preventing pollution is only one reason why using water efficiently makes sense. Here are a few more:

Money Saved

Improved Reliability

or

What Individuals Can Do

More efficient water use begins with individuals, in the home and place of work. Taking these and other steps, and encouraging others to do so, makes good economic as well as environmental sense.

In: The Home

Outdoors

At Work or School

What Communities Can Do

A water supplier or wastewater system operator (public or private) has cost-effective options to process and deliver water more efficiently. A community can do the same, and can foster ways to use water wisely.

Not all of these steps are expensive. The best choices vary by region and by community, start by asking if these are appropriate where you live and work.

A Water Supplier or Wastewater Processor Can:

A Community Can:

sr: Conduct a public education campaign.

Er: Require developers to build in water efficiency measures.


Return to the top of this document.

Last Updated: January 16, 1995