Alliance for Water Efficiency

Alliance for Water Efficiency
Name	Alliance for Water Efficiency
Formation	2006
Type	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois, United States
Region served	North America
Leader title	Executive Director

Alliance for Water Efficiency is a North American nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the efficient and sustainable use of water supply resources through advocacy, research, and technical assistance. The organization operates at the intersection of municipal public utilities, regional water districts, federal agencies such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and international entities including the United Nations Environment Programme and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. It engages stakeholders across civic, industrial, and academic sectors including the American Water Works Association, Natural Resources Defense Council, and leading universities.

History

The organization was founded in 2006 amid growing concerns about urban water scarcity events, following high-profile occurrences such as the California droughts of the early 2000s and policy actions like the Energy Policy Act of 1992 appliance standards updates. Early collaborators included municipal utilities from cities like Chicago, Phoenix, and Denver, together with nonprofit partners such as the Environmental Defense Fund and The Nature Conservancy. The group developed programs in response to federal initiatives from the United States Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation, and aligned with international dialogues framed by the Millennium Development Goals and later the Sustainable Development Goals. Milestones include participation in regional water planning exercises influenced by cases such as the Colorado River Compact negotiations and studies paralleling research from institutions like the Water Research Foundation and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Mission and Objectives

The organization’s declared mission is to advance the efficient and sustainable use of potable water through market transformation, technical guidance, and policy advocacy. Objectives include supporting standards adoption influenced by the American Society of Civil Engineers and the International Organization for Standardization, promoting appliance and fixture performance standards that relate to the Energy Star program and federal efficiency regulations, and enabling utilities to meet regulatory frameworks such as those set by the Safe Drinking Water Act and state agencies like the California State Water Resources Control Board. It seeks to foster cross-sector collaboration among entities including the American Planning Association, U.S. Green Building Council, and academic centers such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of California, Berkeley.

Programs and Initiatives

Programs span technical assistance, certification guidance, retrofit incentives, and community outreach. Key initiatives have addressed indoor measures like low-flow fixtures promoted in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and outdoor measures such as landscape irrigation best practices used by municipalities like Los Angeles and San Antonio. The alliance has developed model programs for utility conservation pricing reflecting tariff experiments studied by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and has advised on rebate structures similar to those administered by utilities like Seattle Public Utilities and Austin Water. Educational efforts include webinars with partners such as the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and training materials used by state agencies like the California Energy Commission.

Research and Publications

The organization produces technical reports, white papers, and toolkits informed by empirical studies from organizations like the International Water Association, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the Brookings Institution. Reports analyze topics including potable reuse akin to projects in Orange County and demand forecasting methods referenced in studies by RAND Corporation and Pew Charitable Trusts. Publications evaluate fixture performance benchmarks consistent with standards from the American National Standards Institute and document case studies from utilities such as Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department and Philadelphia Water Department. Peer-reviewed collaborations have intersected with journals tied to institutions like Columbia University and Stanford University.

Partnerships and Advocacy

The organization partners with a broad array of stakeholders: advocacy groups such as Sierra Club, professional societies like the American Water Works Association, philanthropic foundations including the Packard Foundation and the Ford Foundation, and federal entities including the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. It has advocated in policy venues influenced by legislation such as state-level water conservation statutes and local ordinances modeled on examples from Tucson and Portland. International collaborations have connected to programs under the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, and regional forums like the Great Lakes Commission. Advocacy efforts have intersected with legal and regulatory discussions involving the Clean Water Act and utility rate design deliberations appearing before bodies such as state public utility commissions.

Governance and Funding

Governance is carried out by a board composed of representatives from utilities, nonprofits, academic institutions, and corporate members, similar in structure to boards governing organizations like the Water Environment Federation and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Funding sources include membership dues from utilities like Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and private companies such as manufacturers represented in trade groups like the Plumbing Manufacturers International, grants from philanthropic organizations like the Rockefeller Foundation, and project contracts with agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state water boards. Financial oversight follows nonprofit best practices akin to Charity Navigator guidelines and audit standards applied by firms working with entities such as the United Way.

Category:Water conservation organizations Category:Non-profit organizations based in Chicago