Best Practices & Restoration Projects
Water Conservation Framework
Participant Profile
Municipal Entity: City of Buffalo
Resolution Passed: Yes
Overview of water conservation plan:
- The City of Buffalo’s water conservation program began in 1998 with the implementation of the universal water metering program. The water meter installation and conversion program, which is the primary component of the Buffalo Water Board’s conservation program began in 1998.
- Other programs include improved distribution system leak detection, identifying and enforcing ordinances requiring homeowner repair of leaking services, hydrant maintenance and vandal-proof lockouts, public education and awareness.
Water conservation achievements to date:
- Approximately 45,000 flat rate services have been retrofitted with new electronic meters and 19,000 existing meters have been replaced and upgraded to electronic touch pad style meters.
- The annual average daily consumption for the 2007 fiscal period has been reduced to 72.40 MGD from 86.54 MGD in the period ending June 1998. The reduction of 14 MGD equates to approximately 16% from the average daily consumption at the beginning of the meter installation program, which is consistent with an expected 15-20% reduction realized in other large-scale meter conversion programs in metropolitan areas. This reduction is the result of a number of factors but is driven primarily by the installation of new water meters and consumption based billing.
Contact person:
Peter Merlo, Principal Engineer for the Division of Water
716-851-4766
Return to list of Water Conservation Framework Participating Cities
Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative
Gary Becker, Mayor of Racine, Chair
Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago, Founding United States Chair
David Miller, Mayor of Toronto, Founding Canadian Chair
www.glslcities.org
© 2006 Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative