Use the Table of Contents above to navigate to the “Resources to Learn More” links as referenced in each issue area of the Water Conservation Leadership Guide.

#Efficiency

ILG’s Water and Wastewater Systems Sustainability Best Practice Area: Information about resources and best practices to conserve water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Be Waterwise”: The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s website includes useful information for local agency operations.

California Department of Water Resources – Water Use Efficiency: Links to water conservation tips and information from the Department of Water Resources.

Best Management Practices for Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional, California Urban Water Conservation Council: The California Urban Water Conservation Council has developed best management practices to integrate urban water conservation into the planning and management of California’s water resources for commercial, industrial and institutional water users.

California Water Association: The website provides information on sharing Best Management Practices, water policy legislation, and information for the pubic on the protection, and efficient use of water resources.

Urban Water Conservation Law (“20 x 2020″): Information about California’s urban water conservation law known as “20 by 2020,” including analyses by the League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties.

CoolCalifornia.org: The website provides suggestions for how local governments can reduce water use.

#EfficientFixtures

U.S. EPA WaterSense Water Conservation Program: Allows consumers to find products with the WaterSense label. The program makes it easy for consumers to save water and protect the environment by purchasing products with the WaterSense label.

Save our Water: Additional information on how to save water in California.

Comprehensive list of water districts in California: Your local water agency is a great resource for more water-saving ideas, rebates and other information that is specific to your area.

Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency: Rebate information on the installation of residential water efficient plumbing fixtures and appliances.

CoolCalifornia.org: The website provides suggestions for how local governments can reduce water use.

#Plants

Best Management Practices for Landscaping, California Urban Water Conservation Council: The California Urban Water Conservation Council has developed best management practices for landscaping water use.

Rules of Thumb for Water Wise Gardening (PDF): Guide and information on water-wise gardening from the Santa Clara Valley Water District.

Water Smart Landscapes, Environmental Protection Agency: A report that provides an overview on water-efficient landscaping.

California Landscape Contractors Association: Useful information about water efficient landscaping techniques.

Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency: Information on water wise gardening.

California Invasive Plant Council: Information and recommendations on California invasive plant materials.

Irrigation Controllers for the Homeowner, California Department of Water Resources: A brochure that highlights important irrigation controller features that allow for proper irrigation scheduling.

Water Efficient Landscapes, California Department of Water Resources: General information on water-efficient landscapes.

Residential Landscapes, Water Use Efficiency Ideas, California Department of Water Resources: Water use efficiency ideas for residential landscapes.

Smart from the Start: A California water conservation program that provides user-friendly tools and landscape templates to assist new homeowners and developers design and install beautiful, water-smart landscapes.

CoolCalifornia.org: The website provides suggestions for how local governments can reduce water use.

#RecycleWater

Recycling, Department of Water Resources: Information on recycled water, with links to several useful resources on the process of treating wastewater, storing, distributing, and using the recycled water.

WaterReuse California: Information on water reuse facilities and desalination, especially WaterReuse publications.

Recycled Water Urban Irrigation User’s Manual: This publication by the Los Angeles County Chapter of the WaterReuse Association’s provides general rules, regulations, and guidelines regarding the safe introduction and use of recycled water for landscape irrigation in Los Angeles County and other areas in California.

CoolCalifornia.org: The website provides suggestions for how local governments can reduce water use.

#LandscapeOrdinance

California Department of Water Resources: Provides information on California’s water efficient landscape ordinance local agencies must adopt, including examples of water efficient landscape ordinances adopted by cities and counties in California.

Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency: Provides information and ordinances related to water conservation.

A Guide to Estimating Irrigation Water Needs of Landscape Plantings in California, University of California Cooperative Extension: Guide for calculating landscaping water needs and water needs for specific types of plants.

Smart from the Start: A California water conservation program that provides user-friendly tools and landscape templates to assist new homeowners and developers design and install beautiful, water-smart landscapes.

Rules of Thumb for Water-Wise Gardening, Santa Clara Valley Water District: This publication can assist local governments in determining what types of landscaping to use at agency facilities.

Water-Wise Gardening in the Gold Country Region: This online guide can assist local governments in determining what types of landscaping to use at agency facilities.

Principles and Practices of Bay-Friendly Landscaping: Bay-Friendly Landscaping provides the professional landscaping industry with an integrated approach to environmentally-friendly landscaping. Prepared by StopWaste.org in Alameda County.

CoolCalifornia.org: The website provides suggestions for how local governments can reduce water use, including ideas that can be included in a local water conservation ordinance.

#Groundwater

Ahwahnee Water Principals for Resource Efficient Land Use, Local Government Commission: There are a number of stewardship actions that cities and counties can take that reduce costs and improve the reliability and quality of our water resources.

Achieving Sustainable Site Design Through Low Impact Development Practices, Low Impact Design Studio: Provides an overview of low-impact development concepts related to water.

Water: Low Impact Development, U.S. EPA: Provides information on low impact development.

Stormwater Strategies, Natural Resources Defense Council: A discussion of low impact development practices, plus case stories.

#DualPlumbing

Recycling, Department of Water Resources: Information on recycled water, with links to several useful resources on the process of treating wastewater, storing, distributing, and using the recycled water.

WaterReuse California: Information on water reuse facilities and desalination.

CoolCalifornia.org: The website provides suggestions for how local governments can reduce water use.

#Standards

ILG’s Green Building Sustainability Best Practice Area: Provides information on resources and case stories about local agencies adopting green building ordinances and programs.

California Building Standards Commission: Access the Building Standards Commission website, get information on CalGreen and view the 2010 California Green Building Code here.  CalGreen includes information on water conservation and efficiency. 

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Rating Systems: (LEED), U.S. Green Building Council: LEED provides third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

Build It Green: Build It Green is a non-profit membership organization providing green building guidelines and rating systems (such as the GreenPoint Rated home rating system).

Food Service Technology Center: Information on energy efficiency in food service.

#Audits

Green Building Case Stories, ILG’s Green Building Sustainability Best Practice Area: View case stories about local agencies that include retrofit requirements at point of sale as part of their green building ordinances.

Landscape Water Use Frequently Asked Questions, California Department of Water Resources: Provides information on providers of landscape irrigation auditing classes in California (scroll down to the FAQs).

#ConservationDevices

Best Management Practices for Residential Water Users, California Urban Water Conservation Council: The California Urban Water Conservation Council has developed best management practices for planning and management of residential water users.

Best Management Practices for Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional, California Urban Water Conservation Council: The California Urban Water Conservation Council has developed best management practices to integrate urban water conservation into the planning and management for commercial, industrial and institutional water users.

Comprehensive list of water districts in California:
Your local water agency is a great resource for more water-saving ideas, rebates and other information that is specific to your area.

 

The guide was prepared with generous financial and technical support from the law firm of Hanson Bridgett.