In 1991, more than 100 urban water suppliers committed to implementing long-term conservation measures called Best Management Practices, or BMPs, by signing the Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Urban Water Conservation (MOU). Today, more than 200 urban water suppliers, public advocacy organizations, and other interested parties have signed the MOU, forming a coalition known as the California Urban Water Conservation Council. These signatories have voluntarily committed to implementing the following 14 BMPs.

Best Management Practices

 1. Water Survey Programs for Single-Family Residential
     & Multi-Family Residential Customers
 2. Residential Plumbing Retrofit
 3. System Water Audits, Leak Detection & Repair
 4. Metering with Commodity Rates for All New Connections
     and Retrofit of Existing Connections
 5. Large Landscape Conservation Programs & Incentives
 6. High-Efficiency Washing Machine Rebate Programs
 7. Public Information Programs
 8. School Education Programs
 9. Conservation Programs for Commercial, Industrial
     & Institutional Accounts
10. Wholesale Agency Assistance Programs
11. Conservation Pricing Home
12. Conservation Coordinator
13. Water Waste Prohibition
14. Residential ULFT Replacement Programs

The California Water Association is a signatory to the MOU and has been active in assisting regulated water utilities in their efforts to implement cost-effective conservation programs. Several CWA members are also signatories to the MOU, including California Water Service Company, California-American Water Company, Dominguez Water Company, and Golden State Water Company. For more information on the BMPs or the California Urban Water Conservation Council, log on to www.cuwcc.org .