Waste Not, Want Not: The Potential for Urban Water Conservation in California

Peter H. Gleick

Dana Haasz

Christine Henges-Jeck

Veena Srinivasan

Gary Wolff

Katherine Kao Cushing 

Amardip Mann

Pacific Institute

Abstract
The largest, least expensive, and most environmentally sound source of water to meet California’s future needs is the water currently being wasted in every sector of our economy. This paper is based on a report produced by the Pacific Institute in November 2003 called “Waste Not, Want Not,” which strongly indicates that California’s urban water needs can be met into the foreseeable future by reducing water waste through cost-effective water-saving technologies, revised economic policies, appropriate state and local regulations, and public education. A full copy of the report is available at: http://www.pacinst.org/reports/urban_usage/index.htm