What We're Doing

River Network is focusing the attention of communities and decision-makers on the connections between water, energy use and climate change. This project will help define the "blue wedge" of climate control strategies by quantifying the energy and carbon embedded in water use. We are also training local community leaders throughout the country to reduce energy, water use and carbon emissions through smarter, more comprehensive water supply planning.

Climate change is such a huge issue that it can be difficult to figure out how to begin taking action in your watershed. Luckily, anybody can save energy by saving water which means that many of the tried and true strategies that watershed groups have been using for years can make a huge difference in both adapting to and preventing global warming.

Water conservation, efficiency, reuse and low impact development have all been proven to protect our rivers. Because water-related energy use is so high - equivalent to at least 9% of our nation's electricity use - every drop of water that does not get used will also reduce our energy use and carbon emissions.

To meet our watershed and climate change objectives, River Network staff members are working directly with water utilities, local grassroots groups and other nonprofit organizations to document how saving water works as a strategy to mitigate climate change in a number of focus cities. We will coordinate, assist and observe communities developing their own water conservation, efficiency, reuse low impact development programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect freshwater resources. We will summarize these successful strategies in a guidebook designed to help watershed groups understand the connection between water and energy and apply these concepts in their communities.

We are also working on a suite of simple water-energy calculators that will help individuals, grassroots groups and water utilities estimate their water-related energy use and carbon emissions. These tools are still being developed and should be available shortly.