Water is one of our most precious resources, and local governments are taking steps to improve and protect it. Results from a recent sustainability survey show that approximately one-third of the 2,176 responding local governments report taking these actions:

• Conserve the quantity of water from aquifers (33.5%)
• Use grey water or reclaimed water systems (16.3%)
• Set limits on impervious surfaces on private property (30.3%)
• Use water pricing structures to encourage conservation (33.0%)
• Other incentives to encourage water conservation behaviors by the city, residents, and businesses (27.6%).

Of particular interest are the 76 local governments that reported implementing all five of the actions in their community.  Of the 76 local governments, 18 are in California, and 19 are in Florida. Both of these states have imposed water restrictions in the past few years. Ten local governments in Texas also report all five initiatives. The summary results of the survey are available here.

The survey was developed with the input of ICMA’s Center for Sustainable Communities, the Center for Urban Innovation, Arizona State University’s Global Institute of Sustainability (ASU GIOS), the Alliance for Innovation, and others.  Survey distribution was conducted through a collaboration of ICMA, ASU GIOS, and the Sustainable Cities Network, a multijurisdictional partnership. The survey was provided in a print format because the local government response rate is both higher and more scientifically representative than for an electronic survey.