An Informed Public. The public shall be informed of the real costs of water use and the savings that can be achieved through water efficiency, and of actions they can take to reduce usage. There are a variety of expected outcomes from this action plan, all of which are beneficial to governments and consumers. 2 Environmental Quality Improvements Increased water use efficiency reduces the volume of water used by consumers, and of wastewater going to treatment facilities. 3 Energy Conservation Water efficiency also means being more efficient with the use of energy.
Less energy is used to heat water, and to pump potable water and wastewater.
4 Urban Intensification Water efficiency allows more intensive development on existing water and sewer infrastructure, as less water is required per household or business. Water conserved is generally cheaper than water provided through building a new water plant. The move to water efficiency will trigger new economic activities for water-related manufacturing and service sectors, encouraging new business opportunities and job creation. Increased efficiency also means lower costs to business, leading to increased competitiveness. 6 Water Conservation Reduced water use helps to preserve and protect surface waters for fish and wildlife habitat and our natural attractions.