The Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) has released its 2022 U.S. State Policy Scorecard for Water Efficiency and Sustainability, which ranks each state based on its adoption of laws and policies that advance water efficiency, conservation, sustainability, and affordability.
California was the top-ranked state in the nation, followed by Texas, Arizona, Georgia, Washington, New York, Nevada, New Hampshire, Colorado, and Minnesota.
While some states improved since AWE’s previous Scorecard was released in 2017, the analysis found little progress overall, even as droughts and other climate change impacts increasingly undermine affordable, reliable water services. The average state score was only 23 out of 89 possible points.
“Providing sustainable water services is increasingly costly and complicated because of climate change and other factors,” says Ron Burke, president and CEO of AWE. “It is important that states, as well as the federal government, support local efforts to reduce water use with financial assistance, policies that drive best practices, and planning that facilitates cooperation across watersheds.”
In the Western U.S., a prolonged drought, fueled by climate change, has contributed to significant water supply shortages. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has called for states in the Colorado River Basin (CRB) to significantly reduce water demand, but negotiations have not resulted in an agreement.
AWE found numerous opportunities for policy improvement among the seven CRB states — which averaged 37 out of 89 possible points — such as adopting plumbing efficiency standards, limiting water loss from utility distribution systems, and funding water reuse and recycling.
Key findings include:
- Connecticut was the only state that reported using its own funds to support customer water bill assistance
- California is the only state that requires water utilities to plan for climate change
- 18 states use their own revenues to fund water efficiency and conservation
- 16 states provide funding for water reuse.
- 13 states require rate structures that encourage water efficiency
- 19 states require coordination between local land use and water planning agencies.
Despite the low scores, there were some bright spots, including ten states adopting point-of-sale plumbing efficiency requirements since 2017 that go beyond federal standards, for a current total of 15 states plus the District of Columbia.
The full report, with access to individual state scorecards, is available on AWE’s website.
The Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) is a nonprofit organization with more than 500 organizational members dedicated to the efficient and sustainable use of water across North America. AWE provides training, research, and other resources for water efficiency professionals. In addition, AWE advocates for products, programs, and policies that advance water efficiency.
