_edited.jpg)
Urban Water Efficiency Program
AN INITIATIVE OF CBCD
The Urban Water Efficiency Program (UWEP) is a FREE service offered by the Columbia Basin Conservation District to promote water use efficiency across the region. The program's goal is to assess domestic water use and irrigation system performance, generating comprehensive water use efficiency reports that include maps and usage statistics.
How the Program Works
The process begins with scheduling an appointment with the district to evaluate the irrigation system. Following the assessment, a detailed report is generated, reviewed by a district employee, and shared with the client. Assessments focus on tracking water usage in sprinkler systems, identifying damaged or broken components, and evaluating the overall design efficiency of the system.
Who Can Participate?
This program is available to county and municipal greenspaces, public parks, residential lawns, gardens, pastures, and other domestic areas requiring irrigation.
Griffin Hansen, CBCD Program Manager collecting data from a catch cup at a UWEP site visit.
Conserving Resources & Saving Money
Water in the Columbia Basin is a vital resource, and conserving it requires proactive strategies to reduce excess use. These reports empower clients by providing actionable information for repairs and maintenance of their irrigation systems. By optimizing water use, homeowners, municipalities, and other participants can save money while contributing to the conservation of this critical resource in the Columbia Basin.
Learn About our Sister Program, the Heritage Garden Program!
Catch cup set up for UWEP lawn test.
Interested in Participating?
Participating in the Urban Water Efficiency Program is easy! Contact us to get started.
Griffin Hansen, CBCD Program Manager documenting data at a UWEP site visit.
UWEP FAQs
Why is UWEP important?
The Urban Water Efficiency Program (UWEP) was created to help homeowners and municipalities conserve water in the Columbia Basin. As time goes on, water is becoming an increasingly valuable and harder-to-obtain resource. This growing scarcity poses social and financial challenges for communities in the basin. Through UWEP, the Columbia Basin Conservation District is working to mitigate these challenges by promoting water conservation and reducing the costs associated with changes in domestic water availability.
Can I get a report?
Water use efficiency reports are available to any homeowner, client, entity, or municipality with domestically irrigated lawns, gardens, parks, greenspaces, or pastures. Contact us to get started!
What goes into creating a report?
Creating a water use efficiency report involves the following steps:
-
Scheduling an appointment: A district employee will visit the property.
-
On-site assessment: The employee will walk through the property’s irrigation system, turning on the water systems to inspect system conditions.
-
Mapping the system: Sprinkler lines and other irrigation components are mapped using ESRI’s ArcGIS software.
-
Report generation: Findings are analyzed to estimate water use and create a comprehensive final report.
Who is funding the Urban Water Efficiency Program?
The National Association of Conservation Districts is currently funding this program.
