By Cynthia Zhao and Rich Anderson
July 12, 2004

Trenton (NJ) Mayor Douglas H. Palmer and Sugar Land (TX) Mayor David G. Wallace convened a meeting of the Urban Water Council (UWC) in conjunction with the United States Conference of Mayor's 72nd Winter Meeting June 25. The mayors discussed two water related resolutions, water partnerships and water consumption/conservation trends in America.

Michael Leonard, General Manager and Chief Administrative Officer of Atlanta-Fulton County Water Resources Commission and Kevin Jones, Project Manager of Veolia Water, North America, described the partnership arrangement involving Atlanta-Fulton County.

The Water Resources Commission is a wholesaler of drinking water in the area of North Fulton and Sandy Springs. The water treatment plant is owned by the city of Atlanta, Fulton County. The facility has a daily capacity of 90 million gallons and serves more than 350,000 customers. By entering a short-term (four years) public-private partnership with Veolia Water, the City of Atlanta-Fulton County was able to reduce their water treatment cost from 36 cents per thousand gallons to 25 cents on average. They are expecting to further reduce the cost and reach their goal of 19 cents per thousand gallons very soon. More competition among the bidding companies has kept operation and management costs as low as $1.5 million since 2003.

The partnership approach helps the city retain excellent technical staff by setting standards for high-ranking employees and obtaining local technical expertise support from area contractors. Leonard concluded that a good contract and good asset management are keys for a successful partnership.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Senior Hydrologist Susan Hutson presented the latest Water Consumption Report released by the USGS in March 2004. Domestic water supplies are limited but demand is increasing. Meeting the needs of an expanding population and growing economy presents a great challenge. "Sound planning for water depends on a sound understanding of the Nation's water resources and a sound understanding of how people will use water in the future," Huston said. "This report will help people and decision makers better understand water use in the US and to make sure water availability for future generations of Americans."

Water use remains stable despite population growth, stated Hutson. Roughly 408 billion gallons of water was used per day, and 1,430 gallons of water was used per person per day in 2000. The major water consumers are electric power generation and irrigation, which accounted for about 82 percent of water usage in 2000. (See Table 1) Because of new technologies, thermoelectric-power water use has improved its efficiency dramatically, which allows greater electricity production with less water.

Municipal water use is growing, but not outpacing population growth. Hutson explained that public supply withdrawals accounts for 11 percent of total water withdrawals and it matches population distribution. California, Texas, Florida and New York are the biggest water users among the 50 States.