In most cases, municipalities implement these on a voluntary basis. However, where circumstances require, they may be mandatory. Municipalities may also enact landscaping by-laws which restrict the amount of grass area in new developments. This is a relatively new regulatory measure which is in use in some US municipalities. Many water efficiency programs depend on people for their success.
Public education is the vehicle which gets people involved.
It is an essential component of every water efficiency measure. Public education is often one of the first measures which municipalities take to support water conservation. It is non-controversial, can be low cost and is easy to implement. On-going public education programs help to sustain existing savings and they set the context for new initiatives by providing general awareness about water efficiency. Short-term campaigns support new initiatives such as seasonal lawn watering programs.