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Why Fed Moves Won't Hugely Affect Your Loans Anytime Soon
by The Associated Press Mar 19th 2015 11:27AM
The day will come when the Fed nudges its benchmark lending rate from next to zero to something slightly higher. Here's what may happen next.
The day will come when the Fed nudges its benchmark lending rate from next to zero to something slightly higher. Here's what may happen next.
Consumers increased their borrowing in December, with the category that includes credit cards rising at the fastest pace in eight months.
What can you do when you're trapped with a car loan that you can't afford? Here's what I did, and here are four other ideas.
U.S. consumers increased their borrowing in November, as stronger demand for auto and student loans offset a drop in credit card debt.
The zero-percent car loan is less than half as common as it was four years ago, but U.S. consumers who find such deals can expect to save big.
Buying and financing a car may seem daunting, but there are ways to get the upper hand in negotiations and ultimately lead to a better deal.
Authorities are investigating used-car dealerships to see whether they are falsifying information on loan applications to ensure that anyone can buy a car.
Too many Americans are following a trend of saving woefully too little and spending too much -- and racking up loads of debt. Are you one of them?
A record number of U.S. consumers are taking out loans to buy cars, especially those purchasing used vehicles, according to data from Experian.
New U.S. auto loans jumped to the highest level in eight years this spring, fueled by a big increase in lending to risky borrowers.
Getting out of debt is one of the best ways to improve your retirement prospects. Here's how to climb out of these five tricky debt situations.
I went from being upside-down on an outrageous seven-year new car loan to saving almost $2,000 by refinancing through a credit union. You can do it, too.
U.S. banks looking to get in on a booming market for financing new-car sales have run into a formidable competitor: the auto manufacturers themselves.
In the latest sign Americans are increasingly comfortable taking on more debt, auto buyers borrowed a record amount in the first quarter.
A new study shows the average household in 24 of America's 25 largest metropolitan areas cannot afford to pay for the average priced new car or truck.
A combination of higher prices for new cars and relatively low rates for auto loans means Americans are borrowing a record amount to pay for their new rides.
Sam's Club is trying out an online subscription service similar to Amazon's that mainly focuses on basic consumer products, everything from paper towels to printer cartridges.
With all the hidden interest and seemingly endless payments, can you truly afford your lease? John Jamieson explains how to save big money on your next car.
Our cars are the second biggest drain on our budgets. And the more you regularly spend on something, the more you can probably save on it.
We all remember how the subprime mortgage crisis threw the financial system into chaos. Well, there's another similar crisis brewing just under the economy's surface.
Here's something they don't teach in Driver's Ed: the four ways that driving can have significant, long-term impact on your credit.
U.S. consumer credit rose more than expected in September but credit card usage fell for a fourth straight month.
Hyundai says that any furloughed government workers facing a payment on their Hyundai can wait until they're back to work.
U.S. consumers trimmed their overall indebtedness in the latest quarter, continuing a nearly five-year trend.
The financial state of a majority of elderly Americans is tenuous at best. And when your older relatives die, some of their money problems can become your problems.
Summer can be a great time to land a great deal on a new car, and doing a bit of research before you hit the showroom floor can help make you a better negotiator.
New car sales abound this Memorial Day weekend. Here's how to be a savvy shopper and land the best deal.
With new car sales revving up, consumers are trading in old cars, resulting in lower prices for used cars.
U.S. sales of sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks jumped in March, spurred by rising home prices and an increase in housing construction, major automakers report.
Automakers are expected to report Tuesday that U.S. car and truck sales hit their highest level in nearly six years in March.
The debate over buying vs. leasing a car has been running for years, but these days, we can't afford to choose poorly. Our readers chime in with their experiences and advice.


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Campus Times is the student newspaper of the University of Rochester. We print every Thursday except during University holidays, and we publish online at campustimes.org.
Campus Times has a weekly circulation of 4,500 print copies and over 8,000 e-mail subscribers. Print copies are available around the River Campus, Strong Memorial Hospital, UR Medical Center, Eastman School of Music, and the Memorial Art Gallery.
Rachael Sanguinetti, Editor-in-Chief
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Adam Kadir, News Editor
Julianne McAdams, News Editor
Jason Altabet, Opinions Editor
Jamie Rudd, Features Editor
Dani Douglas, Features Editor
Justin Fraumeni, A&E Editor
Jefferey Howard, A&E Editor
Max Eber, Sports Editor
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Saad Usmani, Copy Editor
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Matthew Shinseki, Publisher


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OP Senior Member
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It's disabled in accessibility settings - I tried enabling it but doesn't change anything. I have also tried rebooting.
I don't know when this behavior started so I can't quite pinpoint the culprit.
I'm rooted, TWRP recovery (AutoRec), stock rom D802 20d with custom kernel (latest dorimanx kernel).
I think it might be the kernel but I'm not sure.
Your help will be greatly appreciated


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The Bach Uke Book
By Rob MacKillop
The Bach Uke Book composed by Rob MacKillop. For baritone ukulele. Saddle-stitched. Intermediate. Book/CD Set. 44 pages. Published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc (MB.30024BCD).
ISBN 9780786684434. 8.75 x 11.75 inches.
This book and accompanying audio offer a unique look into playing the music of Bach on the ukulele. Included are twenty duets for two ukuleles or ukulele and guitar. The first part in the duet can be played on either soprano, concert or tenor ukulele, and the second part on either baritone ukulele or guitar. This collection contains beautiful arrangements of many of Bach's most popular pieces. Some of the arrangements are simple, some complex, but most are of intermediate difficulty. The accompanying audio contains breathtakingly beautiful performances by ukulele maestro, Rob MacKillop, and historical guitar specialist, Gordon Ferries, making it wonderful in its own right. Included are pieces such as Sheep May Safely Graze, Minuet in G, Sleepers Awake, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, and many other classic tunes.


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[5-Minute Dance Party] Bitten By The Frost
A brief discussion on the traits of champions along with a stellar 5-Minute Dance Party! Stop by! Read on, Reader!
A brief discussion on the traits of champions along with a stellar 5-Minute Dance Party! Stop by! Read on, Reader!
We meet on a transatlantic ship. A designated place, a predetermined time. Read on, Reader!
An ending, an question, and, hopefully, some answers. Read on, Reader!
This complicated world delights my crooked, well-meaning heart. Read on, Reader!
A shadow breaks, blooms across the wall from a car driving down the street. I drift alongside the shadow with my eyes only; I am dreaming of stories again. Read on, Reader!
The pleasure of the game is that it requires a certain amount of thought and skill, but leaves the players enough free mental space to sit and have a leisurely conversation. Read on, Reader!
We look up.
Somehow, we chose a path.
Read on, Reader!
It is August 1942. Gordon Parks has been in Washington D.C. for less than a month. Read on, Reader!
I crave books I love the way I crave certain foods. I will stop cold in the middle of a task during the day with a single line from a novel or poem written in fire over my head, and the craving is so strong that I know, before the day is out, I will have that book tucked open in my right hand as neatly, and as tightly as a well-made bed.
The moment that drives my ordinary reader's desire into the swerve of a bibliophilic craving is the artistry of the writing itself. (There are stories, and there are stories, after all.) What keeps me turning pages is my fascination with the person (or persons) whose story is being told.
But who is telling the story?
I'm not talking about the writer/author, per se.
(We know s/he is telling the story— sometimes s/he tells us right in the middle of the story— disruptively— but we'll get into the fiddly bits of postmodern literature in just a bit.)
What I'm trying to ask you here is who is the actual voice telling you the story?
POV, or point-of-view, is one of the most necessary structural details you need to consider as you prepare to write your own stories.
Because, for every story, there are a thousand, thousand ways to use POV as one of the pistons pulling the action and motivation and meaning along.
There are no shortcuts to figuring out the POV question to help you sort out the structural details of your story.
What should be helpful is to know what your options are in the POV world. (Some structural details of a novel are setting, plot, tense, time frame and so on. There are many architectural elements necessary to provide your novel with a solid structure, but POV …. Read on, Reader!
Cunningham is a native daughter of the Northwest and understands, instinctively, the temperament of light. Read on, Reader!
One of the primary lessons I learned at my grandfather's knee is that the little things are what make up the width and breadth of a person's life.
The stories we tell about one another are often these big swaths of overarching narrative— the facts and places and faces version of events.
What really happens to us, when you get down to it, is that we wake up in the morning and we commit a series of sacred, small acts— whatever they may be— that are ours and ours alone.
I think this is why I am so haunted by Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"— it's a poem about a life full of small gestures. It's also one of the most perfectly executed poems I've ever read, which haunts me for a different reason— but that's a discussion for another Sunday.
Unlike Prufrock, my grandfather was not rattled by a life made of small gestures.
Each moment was examined and opened like a gift. If he was having his morning cup of black percolated coffee and looking out the window, you knew he was doing those two things and nothing more.
His mind was right there with that singular moment. He wasn't thinking about the newspaper or the work he needed to do an hour from then— he was having coffee and gazing out the window at the natural world and its wonders. That's it.
This week, I have had a number of big, not-so-happy things on my mind. I find the bigger the issue I am considering, the more I prefer to balance out the big and scary with the small and interesting.
Should I find myself having a truly bad time of it, I …. Read on, Reader!
There are no second acts in American lives, F. Scott Fitzgerald? I call hooey on that. Hooey, I say! Read on, Reader!


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Anna on Late Night, a Twilight/True Blood Crossover, and Bid to Be Buried Above Marilyn!
Like us on Facebook
Anna Wintour made headlines when she stopped by Letterman last night to chat about The September Issue. An eBay auction to spend eternity with Marilyn Monroe goes over $4 million, and two of our favorite famous vampires team up for a blood-sucking flick. All that and more on today's PopSugar Rush!
Cam Gigandet
Frenched 5 years
What? That's insane. Are these two guys bidding to be buried above Marilyn? What do you care when you're dead?
Link Love
- You'll never bite your nails again after reading this — HuffPost Style
- Choupette Lagerfeld undergoes "eye beauty treatments" — The Cut
- Green lipstick is surprisingly flattering — InStyle
- Tips and tricks to promote hair growth — Beauty High
- DIY recipes to incorporate honey into your beauty routine — Daily Makeover
- Center hair parts are so hot right now — Byrdie
- Sephora just played the best April Fools' Day prank — The Gloss
- The one thing Katy Perry does to annoy her makeup artist — Teen Vogue


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where are all the bolts? what all needs to be removed?
Questions for specific Pontiac Firebird years:
Pontiac Q&AAsk Your Question
All Pontiac Firebird questions
how do yo change the waterpump?
1997 Pontiac Trans Am
Labor cost in installation of pacesetter headers + Y-Pipe in 1997 Pontiac Trans Am?
vacuum hoses for intake manifold
I have replaced the intake manifold, the "friend" helping me took off the vacuum hoses,...
timing cover gasket
how many hours of labor go into replacing a timing cover gasket and what is a fair price to pay a...
a/c stops cooling after a minute
1.the a/c cools fine but after a minute the clutch of the compressor kicks out what can be the re...
What is the average cost in fl to replace a fuel injector
I need a tune up and probably a fuel injector
a/c stops cooling after a minute or two minute
i had a rydler pully broken that disconcted some wires under the hood and after that happend the ...
will crank but wont fire
i had a leak in a hose and fixed it earlier that day. turned the car off and went into a store a...
is the nuetral start switch the same on a 5 speed manuel as it is on an automatic
sometimes have to push the clutch several times before it does anything
low idle
I'm putting an '89 Formula back together. The engine runs but the idle is low and jumps ...
How Much it will be to fix power locks
How much would it be to get the power locks on the doors and the windows fixed?
power windows and radio go out and then come back on after car sits a few hrs
it has been doing it for about 3 weeks it is my wifes car she has to swipe her card to get into w...
how to take off oil pan
need to replace oil pump
coolant leak
I have a coolant leak coming from the pass side above the water pump, i beileve it's the inta...
hood cable broken
broken cable cannot get to eingin
rough idle bogs and backfires
i am clueless on the prob rough idle.idles at about 700rpm.boggs down when accelerating. bickfire...
1989 350 TPI no start
Went to get my car outta storeage last weekend, and i had an engine crank no start issue. wasn...
1 can't get my interior lights to go off 2 can't get my brake light to come on all bulbs ...
Headlight actuator motor noise
Ok, I got one for you. I normally answer these but I am a little stumped. The pass side headlight...
horn or head lights want come on
i have a 94 firebird v6 the head lights pop up but the head lights want come on also the horn don...
fuel filler neck
how does the filler neck come out of fuel tank
clutch wont disengage
i changed my 94 from auto to 5speed with all 95 parts an the clutch wont disengage
electrical (I think)
Occasionally my radio goes off then I can't use my power windows. Then when the radio comes ...
Is it possible to bypass the heater cord?
My heater cord is going out on my 93 Firebird and instead of replacing it I want to bypass it any...
Heater core
How many hours of labor is this estimate for?
knock sensors
Where are the knock sensors located?
what year modle engines will work for my car
what is a going price for a used engine. And what year model will work.
any suggestions why car lost power and slalled and wont crank back but does turn over
my car lost power and cut off.i changed waterpump and belt the day before.now i have no spark but...
what is the average cost to put in a new erg valve
My service engine soon light is on. they checked the codes and it is coming up p1401.
Hesitates when idel low
When starting to drive from a stop it hesitates until rpm goes up then it runs good. It says #1 m...


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"Our advisor was very helpful in this whole process. I would refer people that are working with mortgages to you at any time. Very fast response. Could not believe he actually called me as fast as he did. Thank you"
CapWest Mortgage is a division of Farmers Bank & Trust, which is a family-owned and operated bank that has been federally chartered since 1907. We help a diverse set of homeowners achieve their financial goals using conventional, FHA and VA loan products which we can originate in all 50 states. Additionally, we offer home equity lines of credit, savings accounts, CDs, and various other bank products to our customers.
As a Costco Preferred Lender, we also have the distinct pleasure of serving millions of Costco members across the country.
CapWest Mortgage is a Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae-approved lender that is proud to offer the kind of old-fashion, personal service our bank was founded upon coupled with our next generation, leading edge technology. As a bank that has been around for more than a century, we are still in business because our word is our bond.
Low rates. Low Fees. No hassles. That's CapWest Mortgage.
About Farmers Bank & Trust
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Join Out in Tech and Lesbians who Tech Speaker Series "How Tech Companies Are Shaping Policy"
- Community & Culture
- AppNexus HQ, New York NY
Out in Tech's September Event
Out in Tech
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM (EDT)
Right on the heels of our sold-out July panel, Out in Tech is hosting our next social event at the famous Sky Room, the highest rooftop bar in New York. We're going to have the entire venue to ourselves, and we can't be more thrilled to see you all again.
Come for:
Out in Tech is a group aimed at uniting LGBT members of NY's tech community, one connection at a time.
Join millions of people on Eventbrite.
In order to purchase these tickets in installments, you'll need an Eventbrite account. Log in or sign up for a free account to continue.


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313-321 South Harkness Street
Commute to Downtown McDonough
Almost all errands require a car.
Score Details
313-321 South Harkness Street has a Walk Score of 15 out of 100. This location is a Car-Dependent neighborhood so almost all errands require a car.
Nearby schools include Jackson High School, Henderson Middle School and Mary Buttrill School.
The closest grocery stores are Ingles Market and Dollar General Market.
Nearby restaurants include DQ GRILL & CHILL RESTAURANT, Wing Depot and Big-Chic of Jackson Inc.
Explore how far you can travel by car, bus, bike and foot from 313-321 South Harkness Street.


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How to get yellow flowers?
My Sunkissed Rose bloomed white and pink and no yellow. I am wondering if I root the leaves and grow the babies plants, will I get some yellow flowers? Has anyone tried it? Thanks.
Is Sunkissed Rose supposed to have yellow in it? If it is, you are out of luck. Yellow is a very unstable color in African violets. Sometimes yellow violets will revert to one of their parents that don't have yellow. Rooting leaves will not bring that yellow back, because the genetic material is lost. Sorry.
Not necessarily. I have an old plant called Alamo Sunrise that is supposed to be white with some yellow. I have had it bloom white with pink sometimes. Occasionally I get a white and yellow flower. I really don't like the way the blooms behave and could never sell it or even give it away as Alamo Sunrise, but I keep it because the leaf variegation is outrageous.
I hope this helps.
I don't have Sun Kissed Rose, but I have Warm Sunshine that is supposed to be yellow. I have found that it likes cooler conditions. So I put it on a lower shelf on my light stand. It also prefers natural light. I have a back bedroom that is cooler and a desk in front of an east facing window. That is where I get the best yellow on my Warm Sunshine. Hope that helps.
At the AVSA convention, Rob's had one on display and it was just gorgeous! Beautiful yellow and pink blend. I would have bought a plant if there were any left..even the display plant had been sold to be picked up after the convention end. Maybe you could email the Violet Barn and ask if they have any into about growing it.
Post back later about how other bloomings of Sunkissed Rose come out. I was thinking of adding that to my collection, but I figure I'll have to wait until he has more available for sale....I'm sure they sold out.
And thanks for the info on Warm Sunshine. I have that as a small plant almost ready to be getting buds to bloom for the first time. It is currently under lights, I think I'll move it to the window shelf and see how it does for me there. I have several plants that do really well with window light.
When I bought the Sunkissed Rose, it had flower buds but had not bloomed yet. I think from now on if I want to be sure that it is going to bloom a certain color, I should buy it when it is in bloom. When Sunkissed Rose blooms again, I will post a follow up. Maybe I will be surprised with a yellowish flower.
hi kal 2002
i also tried the sunkissed rose and its yet to bloom and its been 3 years and i have tried everything and im not a newbie at av's but this one has me stumped.
oh its a beautiful plant just dont know whyshe dont bloom hum maybe its a he lol. ( I call all my violets and strepts girls )
if i ever get a yellow bloom i will send you a few leaves but so far its being a pain.
Hi juliebees2009, sorry to hear that yours did not even bloom. Did you try to root its leaves and grow out the babies? Maybe that will give you a flower or two. Mine is starting to bloom its second cycle. One flower is open with just a tint of yellow on the tips of 2 of its petals. I am waiting to see the rest of the blooms. I will keep you guys posted.
I have a Sunkissed Rose plant, and it's just now starting to bloom after having it for 2 years. Granted, I've had it since it was a small starter plant from Rob's. I posted a picture of it in a previous thread yesterday, but I'll post it again in here:
It has even more yellow and pink in it today.
I think the trick was, for my plant anyway, was LIGHT, and LOTS OF IT! I use lights and have the blinds cracked open for at least 10 hours every day. Also, since the foliage is a bit lighter green, that generally indicates that it will use more light to bloom. I use Oyama planters too, if that has anything to do with it.
Good luck!
Yes, it is labeled "Sunkissed Rose". Sometimes these hybrids don't bloom true. I had a few Summer Carnival plants from rooting a leaf. Two of them bloomed normal - yellow, pink and I think blue spots. One bloomed different. It was only blue and yellow, no pink. Unfortunately, it died. I may root another leaf and see what I will get next time. It is pretty interesting.
I'm new to this forum but have been growing avs for years. They seem to luv me as much as I luv them. I've been looking for a yellow violet but can't find one. Can anyone maybe send me a leaf from this Sun Kissed Rose I keep hearing about? I'd be willing to pay for it. I'd like to see if I can get a yellow flower off of it. I'd also like to try making my own hybrids, too. You all have great advise.
Sandy Sue ...
Repost your request as a new post so more people will see it.
I've had Sun Kissed Rose ... and it will bloom a pale yellow (intermixed with white and pale pink) on occasion.
Also, it is a very vigorous plant ... quick to establish from a leaf ... and with lighter green wavy leaves,
I'm new to this forum but not to African Violets. I've always had them all around me but when we moved north I had to leave them behind with neighbors. Lucky neighbors.
I've been hearing about this Sun Kissed Rose having yellow blooms occasionally and have been looking for a yellow AV with no luck. Does anyone have a leaf or seeds I can try? I'm not having much luck finding them for sale on the web. I'd like to try to hybridize one to get more yellow to show if I can.
Hi Sue
There was a discussion about Sun Kissed Rose on this Forum a while back, along with other yellow flowers. Seems that Sunkissed rose does not always bloom true. A friend of mine has one, it was mostly white when I saw it. She said sometimes it blooms with an ivory center or light pink.
It used to be offered for sale by Lyndon Lyon Greenhouse, who first developed it. But they don't have it listed now.
They might in the future.
It is unlikely anyone on this forum would have seeds for a yellow flower. The seed packets you can buy from Park's are an unnamed assortment of standard colors of purples, light blues and pinks.
Perhaps this helps. Joanne
Sunkissed Rose and Russion sport ...
Here is a link that might be useful: Link to Russian page
I was reading a blog where someone attempted to hybridize for more yellow (I forget which plants she used for "parents") but many of the offspring turned out deformed, indicating that the yellow in the seed parents' petals originated from some kind of mutation that merged pollen sac into petal....
Goofy Russian sense of humor! How many rubles do they charge for shipping? I will wager a guess that sooner or later, Lyndon Lyon's will offer it if it is a strong grower and true to color. I have one or two that are supposed to be yellow that are actually white. Still pretty.
This post was edited by fortyseven on Tue, Aug 12, 14 at 2:54
this particular russian site does not ship out of the country: russia only. they do have a shop in moscow, in case you're visiting :). and they do have american varieties: so they obviously imported them.
i would think that ordering a russian variety unavailable in US would be easier thru EU countries, like poland/lithuania, which have trade/exchange ties to russia and know US customs regulations.
Some people buy their Russians on EBay. (Not me, but others who used to post on this forum said it was pretty safe, they get to know who the growers are.) A search could be done through the archives on this Forum to find the information, or just browse EBay.
Several years ago, the Lyon's company made an arrangement with Russian growers to exchange plant material so that each could grow the other's plants in their own country and adapt to their own growing conditions rather than ordering from the company or shipping back and forth. When the Lyon's group first went to Russia, the people there were thrilled. Now that the market has been opened, I believe the Violet Barn group also went and the Storks. So the market is truly open,
by the way, these are just names of other hybridizers. Not trying to be mysterious.
The Russian plants can get very large, they like to spread out, so I have just a few. However, looks like with your greenhouse, you might have the space for a couple of Russians. Joanne
it seems that there are a couple new violets that are running true to yellow color. The hybrid called Mellow Yellow, LLG, Small, pale yellow, double stars with an abundance of dark yellow streaking in the center. The flowers have a fringed edge. The standard foliage is medium green and serrated. This variety is a good bloomer, and Moon Gold, (H. Pittman) Double gold ruffled. Variegated, wavy. Semiminiature which is very yellow also. The Sunkissed Rose that I've seen everywhere is advertised as having only streaks of yellow running through it. The Russian violet called RS-Lunnyi Svet is also quiet yellow in color. You might try those three varieties. I've been doing research on yellow violets also and have purchased all three of them.


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Comparative water management practices in California and Spain 19 4. URBAN WATER CONSERVATION Traditionally, in the water supply and demand equation, the variable X has always been on the supply side that was solved simply by finding the amount of water matching customer's expectations. However, during the past 15 years, management strategies have experienced a significant shift: demand is now considered as a second variable instead of an imposed factor. Today California's water supply challenges are no longer analyzed as a first grade equation, but as a multivariable expression that requires engineers and policymakers to make constant iterations in order to find the optimal solution, both for customers and the environment. This combination of supply-and-demand management strategies is what water agencies define as integrated resource planning (IRP) (DWR Water Supply Update 2005) Water conservation could be defined as reduced water use, without cutback in its derived benefits. Water conservation, also referred as water use efficiency, is mostly based on reduction of losses and unnecessary water uses. Therefore, two basics tools to increase water conservation are technical improvements (reservoir automation, leakage repair, etc) and public education. Moreover, water savings can be stimulated by a rise in the price. Increasing block rate structures and increased price during periods of peak demand have proved to be very efficient tools in terms of water savings. These strategies will not be discussed in this thesis though, due to their high level of complexity. In addition, water prices in California and Spain are difficult to compare because different agencies have very different billing systems and in many cases the price paid by user also includes sanitations costs. Water use efficiency practices have multiple advantages, compared to increased water supply strategies (desalination, transfers, surface storage, etc). First, water use efficiency avoids the construction of new infrastructures, including pumping, conveyance, storage and treatment facilities (DWR, 2005). Moreover, decrease in water demand leads directly to significant energy savings linked to water supply. According to the California Energy Commission, water-related activities account for 19% of the State's power demand, one quarter of which is used in water supply and treatment (CEC, 2005). In addition, reduction in water use translates in reduced amounts of generated wastewater and therefore a drop in costs associated to sewer conveyance and treatment. 4.1. Urban Water Use in California and Spain Urban water in California and Spain is mostly used as a supply for residential customers, while only a quarter of the total urban demand is used commercial, industrial or municipal proposes (Table 5). Besides the similarities or differences regarding urban water uses, it is necessary to point out the importance of water losses in both countries. Spain looses almost one fifth of it urban water through leakage within the networks. Surprisingly, the Region of Valencia is number one in the rank of loses (25%) of all seventeen Autonomous Communities, although it is one of the most sensible regions to water supply and a leader of the platform in support of the Ebro transfer. In 2004, losses throughout the Region of Valencia, Andalusia and Murcia combined ramped up to 360 hm3, which is as much as 35% of what the controversial transfer was supposed to provide. 20 Comparative water management practices in California and Spain Table 5. Urban water uses in California and Spain Urban water use California Spain Residential demand (liter/person/day) 614 164 Total use (hm3/year) 10,857 4,002 Residential 62% 54% Single family 46% N/A Multi family 16% N/A Commercial 12% 19% Industrial 5% Landscaping 10% - Public use* - 6% Other 1% 2% Losses 10% 18% The INE refers to public use as "municipal use" which includes uses such as street cleaning, public fountains, etc Sources: DWR (2003), INE (2005) In contrast, California water losses vary between 7% and 15%, assuming a 10% as a good average (personal communication with DWR). However, there are several systems with the California foothills that have system losses in excess of 20%. DWR is not going to fix those systems since water losses serve as supply for the flora and fauna in these areas. Only by reducing loses to those of California, in 2004 Spain would have saved almost 500 hm3, which is equivalent to 1,5 times the amount of desalted water produced in that same year. However, it should be noted that the high level of losses in Spain could be partly explained by the old age of the Spanish networks compared to those of California. In California the average residential customer uses over 614 liters/day (data from the DWR, 2005), whereas Spaniards use 3.6 times less water, only 164 liters/day (INE, 2004). The main reason for such a dramatic difference between both regions lies in private landscape irrigation. Residential buildings in California are mostly single-family houses or small condos with no more than three stories, generally provided with their own front and/or backyard. This urbanization pattern is found throughout the entire state, including densely populated cities such as San Francisco. In contrast, Spanish urban areas consist basically of tall apartment buildings with no private gardens, which obliviously cuts down dramatically the water demand for outdoor uses. Californian residential customers use 70% of their water outdoors, whereas only a small portion is used indoors (DWR, 2003). Actually, residential water indoor use in California is 176 liters/person/day, which is very close to Spain's 164 liters/person/day. Analyzing data on a larger scale, including large landscaping (institutional facilities, public parks, etc) it comes to light that over half of total California's urban water supply is dedicated to irrigation of public and private landscapes (see Table 6). It should be pointed out that many of these irrigated urban areas are grown in arid or semi-arid areas of the Central and Southern California and that state-wide urban water demand could be easily reduced by substituting current landscaping species by native and less water consuming types of plants. It is worth pointing out that while indoor demand remains relatively constant throughout the year, outdoor water use ramps up in summer when demand for irrigation increases. In fact it is during dry and hot years when landscapes need more irrigation water, but also it is during these periods when water supply tends to be more scarce due to lack of precipitation and snowpack. Comparative water management practices in California and Spain 21 Table 6. Indoor and Outdoor water use in California Urban water use (hm3) 2003 Total Indoor Outdoor Single Family Residential 51% 5303 28% 1498 72% 3805 Multi-Family Residential 17% 1802 30% 543 70% 1260 Commercial 13% 1393 100% 1393 0% 0 Industrial 6% 601 100% 601 0% 0 Large Landscaping 11% 1169 0% 0 100% 1169 Total 10475 39% 4034 61% 6233 Data from DWR, 2003 Besides residential water demand, California's industrial and commercial water use is also much higher than that of Spain, yet both regions generate similar gross (domestic or state) product. While agriculture only contributes with a small percentage of total GDP (or GSP), commercial and industrial activities generate most of the region's wealth. For every cubic meter California's commercial and industrial customers use, the State generates $838/m3 resulting from these activities. Spain's "economic productivity" is almost twice as high, $1,504 per cubic meter. 4.2. Urban Water Conservation in California California went through one of its most severe droughts between 1987-1992. Despite its terrible environmental consequences, lack of water tough Californians very valuable lesson on water use efficiency. Today almost every water agency has educational programs including on/line tutorials and also active teaching in schools. DWR provides user-friendly guides to efficient water use, specially targeting residential irrigation. A number of publications such as Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, Water Use Classification of Landscape Plants (WUCOLS) and Graywater Guide are available on-line together with Public Affairs Office's Water Education Program. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is one of the best examples of agencies aiming towards public awareness about water use efficiency. Besides proving an extensive range of information on the web site www.bewaterwise.com, being a large agency, MWD is able to host and fund free landscaping training classes, both on-line and active presence. From an institutional point of view California has carried out a large effort creating and funding several offices and agencies, from state to local level, working specifically on water conservation issues. The Office of Water Use Efficiency and Transfers assists DWR about urban and agricultural water conservation and energy efficient water use (including transfers). Among other activities, the OWUE provides loans and grants and also local assistance to customers and agencies, and manages the California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS), which will be discussed further on. DWR is the only institution that deals with urban and agricultural water conservation in a large scale, whereas the rest of water conservation agencies and programs are usually focused on one use. How much water will California require in the future is still uncertain, but what is for sure is that demand will continue to increase. DWR within its 2005 Water Plan framework and Public Advisory Committee developed projections studies in order to estimate water uses by 2030 horizon under three possible different scenarios (Table 7). The first one is based on current population, industrial and water use trends, the second one assumes higher water use efficiency and environmental whereas the third (less resource intensive), and last one, foresees an increase in growth and water demand rate without additional water conservation (more 22 Comparative water management practices in California and Spain resource intensive). Extensive information about DWR forecast methodology and their IWR- MAIN Water Demand Analysis Software is publicly available on their web site. Table 7. Future water demand Net Changes Increase referred Total 2030 Scenarios (hm3/year) to 2001 use (hm3/year) Current Trends 3,701 35% 14,309 Less Resource Intensive 1,645 16% 12,253 More Resource Intensive 7,237 68% 17,845 Source: DWR 2005 The California Bay-Delta Authority (CBDA) carried out a study estimating urban water use saving by the year 2030 under six case scenario, each of them assuming different levels of public funding (DWR, 2005). Projection 6 represents the technical potential of the urban conservation measures evaluated by CBDA. It assumes 100% adoption statewide of these measures using existing technologies and provides a reference point for the other five projection levels. The results proved that the more money would in conservation, the greater the water savings. As a result of water savings programs, urban water demand in 2030 could be 10 to 27 percent lower than it would be without any conservation measures (Table 8). Table 8 . Water use changes for different projection levels Water use changes Annual State Projection Assumed Local Agency referred to 2030 investment levels Investment demand following ($ Million) current trend 1 Historic Rate 99 -10% 1 2 All Locally cost-effective 192 -16% 3 Historic Rate 143 -12% 4 All Locally cost-effective1 236 -18% 5 All Locally cost-effective1 236 -18% 2 6 N/A N/A -27% 1 Benefits from local water savings are larger than the projects cost 2 Projection 6 represents the technical potential of the urban conservation measures evaluated by CBDA. It assumes 100% adoption statewide of these measures using existing technologies and provides a reference point for the other five projection levels Source: DWR 2005 The CBDA's study estimates a notorious increase in demand for the next 30 years: between 11% and 21% of 2001 water use. These projections have been contested by report conducted by The Pacific Institute (PI) report, California water 2030: An efficient Future (2005). The Pacific Institute maintains that by implementing the appropriate conservation measures urban water use in 2030 could drop by 10,361 hm3/year, which is 6% lower than it was in 2000. However, these results overestimate potential water savings for two reasons. First, Pacific Institute's calculations are based on data published in DWR California Water Plan Update 2005 that includes not only raw water use but also second uses of wastewater (water reuse or reclamation). However the Pacific Institute's projections only take into account raw water Comparative water management practices in California and Spain 23 demand and therefore are significantly lower compared to total water use in 2000, which included water reuse. In other words, difference in water use estimated by the PI is not only due to conservation measures but also to the fact that water reuse volumes are not taken into account. Furthermore, Pacific Institute claims non-price-driven efficiency is the key to future water conservation but no precise programs have been described nor has any cost-benefit analysis been conducted. Therefore, I believe that Pacific Institute's forecast is, in some way, unrealistic. Future savings due to conservation measures and their costs are certainly difficult to evaluate as they vary widely depending on local funding, possible changes in water use, water availability, etc. However, for every funding level CBDA estimates a statewide average unit cost (Table 9) that range from $0.184 to $0.423 per m3. It should be noted that potential water savings for projections 1 to 5 are 40 to 70 percent lower than the technical potential. In fact, DWR estimates that achieving the technical potential savings would not be economically profitable because of diminishing returns on investment. Table 9. Potential savings and their costs Projection Average Unit cost of Potential water savings levels Water Savings ($/m3) (hm3/year) 1 0,423 1,422 2 0,181 2,297 3 0,320 1,726 4 0,184 2,600 5 0,189 2,560 Source DWR 2005 From data shown in Table 9, it is clear that the larger the potential water savings the more cost-effective are the conservation measures. Potential water savings are directly correlated to the amount of public funding and therefore marginal cost of water savings also decrease with expenditure in conservation program (Figure 4). For projection levels 1 to 3, every additional dollar invested in water use efficiency entails a drop in unit cost of $0.0026/m3. Yet for higher funding levels, unit cost remains unchanged. Although In some cases large investments may not correspond to the financial optimal, they may be justified due to significant environmental benefits. Although water-use efficiency programs are still too expensive to be implemented at their full potential extent, conservation remains one of the most cost-effective ways of solving the supply-demand equation. Actually, water supply alternatives are still between two and four times more expensive. Cost of recycled water in California ranges from $0.276 to $0.477 per m3 (West Basin Municipal Water District, Orange County Water District) while desalted seawater is obtained at a cost of $0.649 to $1.621 per m3 (DWR, 2005). However, conservation also has some important drawbacks. Unlike desalination, water use efficiency programs do not provide a new "ready-to-use" source of water. Instead, water savings are achieved as a result of the combination of a large variety of actions that require continuous efforts not only from water agencies but from final water users too. All participating agencies must coordinate their different programs when targeting the same group of customers. In addition, they must make sure information is made easily available to the 24 Comparative water management practices in California and Spain users. Once water conservation measures have been implemented, agencies should verify that newly introduced programs continue to be run efficiently. Average marginal cost of water savings 0.45 0.40 0.35 0.30 0.25 ($/m3) 0.20 0.15 0.10 0.05 0.00 50 100 150 200 250 Annual investment ($ Million) Data from DWR 2005 Figure 4. Marginal cost of water savings 4.2.1. California Urban Water Conservation Council In order to orchestrate the number of stakeholders and conservation programs existing state wide, in 1991 one hundred water agencies decided to join their forces and created the California Urban Water Conservation Council (CUWCC), a non-profit organization who aims to increase water use efficiency by implementing a series of water conservation measures known as Best Management Practices (BMP's). Today the Council has 384 members belonging to three different groups: water suppliers, public advocacy organization and other interest groups. All members of the council become signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by which they commit to develop and implement every BMP that is cost-effective, meaning that the cost per m3 of putting in place the BMP is less than the cost of acquiring new water (Totten, G. 2002). The CUWCC has created a guide describing cost- effectiveness as well as a spreadsheet that calculates cost and benefits of BMP's. Besides paying for their own locally cost-effective projects, agencies can apply for public state or federal funds. In 2006, CUWCC spent over $2 Million in water conservation programs, including statewide implementation programs, other special projects research and standards and technical assistance among other activities. The Council's projects are mostly financed with public grants, which in 2006 were up to $1.7 Million. Financial support comes from both state and federal sources including public voted DWR Proposition 50 Water Use Efficiency Grant, California Public Utilities Commission water and energy savings Grant, Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) and US Bureau of Reclamation. The council's members represent its second major source of revenue. In 2006 all the members' dues combined added $789,556 (CUWCC, 2006) The CUWCC's BMP Cost & Savings Study (2005) includes a complete list of all 14 BMP as well as the requirements that should be followed to guarantee the correct implementation of Comparative water management practices in California and Spain 25 the cited practices. Table 10 summarizes CUWCC's 14 BMP and water savings obtained through each of them since 1991 when they were first implemented (CUWCC, 2007). Table 10. Savings achieved through BMP's Gross Water Best Management Practice (BMP) Savings (hm3) 1. Water Survey Programs for Single-family and multi-family residential customers 109 2. Residential Plumbing Retrofit 105 3. System Water Audits, Leak Detection and Repair N/A 4. Metering with Commodity Rates for all New Connections and Retrofit of Existing 44 5. Large Landscape Conservation Programs and Incentives 420 6. High-Efficiency Washing Machine Rebate Programs 17 7. Public Information Programs N/A 8. School Education Programs N/A 9. Conservation Programs for CII Accounts 408 9a. CII ULFT Water Savings 16 10. Wholesale Agency Assistance Programs N/A 11. Conservation Pricing N/A 12. Conservation Coordinator N/A 13. Water Waste Prohibition N/A 14. Residential ULFT Replacement Programs 1,136 TOTAL: 2,255 Source: California Urban Water Conservation Council. BMP Water Savings Summary Report Total BMP's water savings are over two thousand million cubic meters, which is enough water to cover the City of LA's needs for almost three years. However, it should be noticed that BMP's total water savings since 1991 are in the same order of magnitude than DWR's annual water savings estimates for the future (1.4 and 2.6 thousand hm3/year). This means that from today to 2030 DWR expects to save every year on average as much as all of the urban water the State has been able to conserve over the past 16 years. It is to notice that half of the total savings have been achieved through water-use efficient toilets retrofit programs. In fact, toilets are the higher water-using devices within households. US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that toilets may use up to 26% of total domestic water and 40% of indoor water use (www.epa.gov). Throughout all of California, replacement programs have introduced over 2 million efficient toilets. Although this represented huge savings in the past, some experts argue that today there is very little potential savings left and that future conservations programs should start looking in other directions, especially efficient landscapes and irrigation devices. 4.3. Metropolitan Water District's Urban Water Conservation Programs In order to look at California's urban water conservation programs, this paper will develop a case study focused on Southern California. In terms of hydrology, the densely populated area between the City of San Buenaventura (usually referred to as Ventura) and the Mexican boarder encompasses to the South Coast Hydrologic Region (SCHR). Despite covering only 7 percent of the state's surface, 28.335 km2 (DWR, 2005), the South Coast Hydrologic Region has 19.3 millions inhabitants or 54 percent of the State's total population (DWR, 2003). This 26 Comparative water management practices in California and Spain region is even more densely populated than Catalonia would be if the entire population of Andalusia and Madrid moved to the Catalan region (data from the INE 2006). Almost half of California's total urban water use (47%) occurs in the SCHR. The main water supplier for the South Coast Hydrologic Region is the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) who provides 73% of total urban water use for more than 18 million people over 47% of the SCHR area. MWD gets its water from four different sources: the State Water Project (41%), local supplies (38%), the Colorado River Aqueduct (16%) and the LA aqueduct (5%). MWD is a wholesaler, which means it does not deliver water directly to customers, but instead it sells it to retailers. MWD has retail contracts with 26 agencies that may either supply their users or resell water to other smaller agencies. These cities and small agencies also receive water from local sources, recycling or desalination facilities. As a result, it is a blend of local and imported water that is delivered to the final customers. When it comes to urban water conservation, MWD carries out a number of water-use efficiency programs that may eventually overlap with local agencies' water activities. Therefore, water savings result from a combination of actions coming from several stakeholders including retailers, local agencies, cities, customers associations, and ultimately individuals as water users. Analyzing water demand and water-use efficiency within the entire MWD region may lead to vague conclusions because of averaging very different situations. Indeed, some areas have made fairly no improvement regarding water conservation, whereas other cities such as Los Angeles provide strongly encourage conservation through additional funding. Actually, current water demand within Los Angels Department of Water and Power Service Area (LADWP) is 11% lower than it was in 1989 before the drought imposed restriction of water supply. During the same period if time, population in the City of Los Angeles has increased by 18%. 4.3.1. Water demand trends within the MWD service area Within the MWD's service area water supply and population have grown significantly within the past 30 years, as shown in Figure 5. However, because of water shortage due to the 1987- 1992 drought, MWD applied aggressive conservation measures that achieved a 10% drop in water use between 1991 and 1995 compared to the previous five years (1986-1990). This sudden drop in urban water use shows that demand within MWD's service area has indeed a certain degree of elastically and thus can be effectively called on conservation during dry periods. It is worth pointing out that drought also caused an impact on population growth. In fact, during the last dry years and until the late 1990's the population growth was virtually zero. Despite the drought's negative consequences, Californians gained a valuable experience in water use efficiency. Today water per capita water use within the MWD's service area is still at the same level it was immediately after the drought, around 727 liters/person/day (MWD 2005). Even though the drought had significant effects on water use and population growth, it was three years after the 1987-92 dry period began than such impacts became obvious. Such a delay in people's reaction is party explained by the fact that it takes a certain amount of time to determine whether there is indeed a drought or if it is simply one random short dry period. In addition, once water entities including agencies or public institutions have decided to initiate mandatory conservation, it usually takes some extra time for measure to be implemented and result to be obtained. Comparative water management practices in California and Spain 27 7000 35 6000 30 5000 25 4000 20 Million Hm3 3000 15 2000 10 1000 5 0 0 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 Water supply Population Source: MWD's Regional Urban Water Management Plan, 2005 Figure 5. MWD service area water supply and population growth 4.3.2. MWD conservation programs MWD conservation programs follow two main guidelines: the CUWCC BMP's and the 2004 Integrated Water Resources Plan (IRP). The purpose of the IRP is to establish regional targets for the development of water resources including conservation, local supplies, State Water Project supplies, Colorado River Aqueduct supplies and water drawn from regional storage and purchased though water transfers (MWD, 2004). The IRP is a result of the joined efforts of several groups including MWD staff, member agencies, member sub-agencies, groundwater basin managers and representatives from environmental, agricultural business and civil communities. MWD differentiates two ways of water savings: "code-based" and "active". "Code-based" savings result from demand reductions driven by increase in the price of water and conservation-oriented rate structures as well as water efficient pluming codes. California 1992 Plumbing Code obliges new constructors to install water efficient devices like toilets (6 liters/flush), showerheads (9.5 liters/minute), urinals (3.8 liters/flush) and faucets in any building of new construction (MWD 2005). Although conservation ordinance intend to achieve water savings, experience tells us that, in the worst-case scenario, they could also lead to increases in water use if conservation measure are not correctly implemented. Such thing occurred in California in the 1980's when the first low flow toilets appeared. In 1980 a regulation requiring 13.25 liters/flush toilets in new constructions was approved before manufacturers were ready to build and users were willing to use the new devices. As a result of an early product launch, new low flow toilets were introduced in the market without having achieved the required technical quality and thus were unable to perform properly with low volume discharges Hence, users should flush their toilets at least twice before getting the same result they did with their old "high water use" toilets. As a consequence, unsatisfied low flow toilets users opposed to innovative toilets and eventually 28 Comparative water management practices in California and Spain to any conservation-oriented devices in general (personal communication with Chris Dundon, Water Conservation Supervisor for Contra Costa Water District. 05/30/2007). Unlike "code based" savings, "active" conservation is achieved through Metropolitan and agency-funded programs, typically retrofits, installations and education within the MOU framework. Since MWD first implemented water conservation programs in 1990, over $177 millions have been invested and one thousand of hm3 have been saved in residential, landscape and commercial uses. That is almost half of all BMP's statewide water savings since 1991. Currently, MWD budgets between $10 and $15 millions for water conservation programs, which are collected via the property tax. In addition, the Metropolitan regularly receives public grants from different sources: CALFED, Proposition 13, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), Water for the West and Proposition 50. Over the past few years, water conservation within the MWD service area has increased progressively up to 2.6% in average of total urban water supply in FY 2003/04 (MWD 2005). On closer approach, water savings for landscaping represented 3.5% of total applied water for large-scale irrigation, while conservation within the residential sector was equivalent to 3.0% of total household water demand. In contrast, commercial water savings only totaled 0.3% of the demand for such use. In other words, commercial potential savings are ten times smaller than residential and landscaping. Program expenditure and water savings decreased in fiscal year 2004/2005 primarily due to saturation of residential ultra-low flow toilets and reduction in commercial high-efficiency clothes washers incentives. MWD's conservation programs cover residential, industrial and landscaping water uses, although the residential sector benefits from over 90 percent of total water savings and funding, as shown in Table 11. There are two fundamental points to be highlighted from the data shown in Table 11. First, the average investment per unit of water savings in landscape is by far the lowest amongst the three kinds of uses. For every dollar spent in landscaping water conservation MWD saves 15 m3, while only 6 m3 and 4 m3 of savings are achieved respectively with residential and commercial programs. Therefore, we reach the conclusion that landscaping is 2.6 to 3.7 times more cost-effective than residential and commercial (lower investment per unit of savings). This mainly is due to the fact that certain water use efficient devices for irrigation such as new generation nozzles are very cheap to produce and install compared to low-flow toilets and high efficient clothes washers. Large landscaping water use in the South Coast hydrologic region accounts for 9% of total urban water use and is the second highest proportion in all California (DWR, 2005). Second, MWD average cost-effectiveness over the past 15 years is 2.4 times higher that the historical state rate shown in Table 9, Projection level 1. MWD's average investment per unit of savings ($0.173/m3) is even lower than the most optimistic of the five projections made by the DWR ($0.19/m3). In addition, investment per unit of water savings in the past two years has been half of the historical average. With the framework of water conservation, the MWD leads basically two kinds of programs: a) Direct conservation and b) Innovation programs Comparative water management practices in California and Spain 29 Table 11. Urban water savings and investment carried out by MWD Residential Landscaping Commercial Total 3 Water Savings (hm ) FY 2005/06 N/A N/A N/A 143 FY 2004/05 118 3 17 139 FY 2003/04 111 3 11 126 FY 2002/03 105 3 6 114 Since Inception (1990)* 937 33 50 1.163 Payments ($ millions) FY 2005/06 N/A N/A N/A 10.6 FY 2004/05 8.6 0.2 1.9 10.7 FY 2003/04 12.5 0.4 3.8 16.7 FY 2002/03 12.1 0.1 2.7 14.9 Since Inception (1990)* 162.3 2.2 12.2 187.3 Average investment per unit of water savings ($/m3) FY 2005/06 N/A N/A N/A 0.074 FY 2004/05 0,073 0,064 0,110 0,077 FY 2003/04 0,112 0,120 0,333 0,132 FY 2002/03 0,116 0,032 0,457 0,131 Since Inception (1990)* 0,173 0,066 0,246 0,173 *Accumulative savings and payments for differentiated water uses between 1990 and FY 2004/05. Total savings and payments include FY 2005/06 achievements. Source: MWD The Regional Urban Water Management Plan. February 2007 a) Direct conservation Direct conservation consists of partnerships with the member agencies to install more efficient devices for residential, landscaping or commercial, industrial and institutional water use a.1. Residential programs Residential water-savings programs result from a joined funding effort coming from the Metropolitan and the water agencies by which customers receive substantial rebates for retrofitting their old inefficient devices for Ultra-Low-Flush Toilets (ULFTs), High- Efficiency Toilets (HETs) and High-Efficiency Clothes Washers (HECWs). Within the MWD's service area, residential customers use 52% of the water supply (37% SFR and 15%MFR). Retrofitting existing devices is still a volunteer practice. However, cities of Los Angeles, San Diego and Santa Monica have made one step forward by passing a retrofit-on-resale ordinance that requires that all non-saving toilets and showerheads be replaced with water efficient models when a property is sold. Hence, the MWD's residential rebates programs are the perfect example of a combined "active" and "code-based" conservation program. High-Efficiency Toilets – HETs The MWD program is based on the pay-as-you-go formula, which means they will provide their member agencies with financial incentives for every new device in the area, but only once it has been correctly installed and is properly working. Rebates for are calculated on the basis of the amount of water each new device is able to save and not depending on the cost of 30 Comparative water management practices in California and Spain the product itself. This is the reason why the most important incentives are given for HET (up to $165/unit), which only use between 3.8 liters and 4.8 liters per flush. Prior to HETs, over 2,5 million ULFT (6.0 liter/flush) had been installed between 1988 and 2004 having an estimated lifetime savings (20 years) of more than two thousand hm3. Annual savings for HET and ULFT are, 62 thousand liters/year for the former and 42 thousand liters for the latter, which would translate into 57$/year and 39$/year for a single family in city of LA (data from MWD, 2005 and LADWP 2007). Customers often ask themselves is these kind of innovative water-saving devices are worth their higher price. The answer should always be yes, but the pay-off times vary widely depending on the applicable water rate, the rebates received and the price of the purchased toilet. Market price for an ULFT ranges from $60 to $200 and for a HET from $200 to $1000 (MWD). In the best-case scenario, users purchasing the cheapest toilets and benefiting from a high rebate may recover their investment in one year, yet upscale pressure-assisted models may need up to 15 years to become worth the initial investment. High-Efficiency Clothes Washers – HECW Clothes washers are estimated to be the second most important water user within a household accounting for 25% of indoor water use (American Water Works Association Research Foundation, 1999). In 1995, Metropolitan launched a clothes washer retrofit program which, up to today's date, has replaced more than 175,000 residential devices. During a 14-month period (2005 and beginning of 2006) the MWD provided its water agencies with a $2.5 million grant incentive for 33,000 new HECWs purchases ($75/unit rebate). Like toilets, HECW are also required to meet certain savings standards to be included in MWD retrofit programs. Clothes washer's efficiency is measured with the Water Factor (WF), which is the ratio of the amount of water used per washer capacity. In July 2005, it the Metropolitan set the acceptable WF to 0,8 or less. This same standard is set to go into effect statewide in 2010. HECW use 35 to 50% less water and 50% less the energy than traditional top-loading washers. Their prices range from $600 to $1,500, which is about $200 to $600 more expensive than a conventional model. Again, pay-off time depends on a number of factors, but it is estimated that the purchase expense is recovered in about three years. a.2. Residential Landscaping Metropolitan funds a series of landscape surveys giving customers advise about how to improve their irrigation systems and picking the most suitable plants for their lawns. The California Friendly Home Program offers assistance and financial incentives for single-family and multi-family builders to incorporate California climate friendly species, high efficient nozzles and "smart" irrigation controllers, also named Residential Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers (WBIC). A WBIC adjusts its watering schedules based on local instant weather conditions (rain, temperature, sunlight, etc.) and is estimated to save an average of more than 50 thousand liters/year during its 10 years lifetime. Considering total urban demand of 812 liter/person/day within MWD service area (MWD, 2005), a 52% of residential use, of which 60% is outdoors a household with 3.5 people uses 334 m3/year in landscape irrigation. By simply installing one WBIC the average household would save 15% of its outdoor water use. Moreover, the California Friendly home program provides rebates for efficient rotating nozzles ($4/unit) and for "smart" irrigation controllers up to $80/unit for SFR and $1557/ha for MFR. Comparative water management practices in California and Spain 31 a.3. Commercial, Industrial and Institutional programs (CII) The pursuit of water-savings in the business sector started in the1990s when Metropolitan carried out over 900 CII surveys in order to determine which conservation measures should be implemented and what would their cost be. In1999, the MWD partnered with its member agencies to conduct a three-year pilot project named the Regionwide CII Program. A vendor was hired to establish a toll free number as a single point of contact for the public and to manage all regional inquiries, request for applications, rebate processing, installation verification and marketing (MWD, 2006). Based on the success of the pilot project, in 2004, Metropolitan launched entered into a five-year, $20 million contract to provide continuity to the Regionwide CII Program. Since inception of the pilot project, the MWD has given incentives to retrofit over 80,000 devices saving 50 hm3. One of the keys to the success of the CII program is the fact that management of requests and funds is centralized and covers the entire MWD region, unlike the residential programs where every local agency handles rebates within its own area. This regionally administrated system makes it easier and more efficient for large industrial and commercial customers having business all over the area to join water-savings plans. Let's take, for example, the case of a large hotel chain. In the past, every hotel had to apply for its own conservation program and address its inquiry to its local agency, which lead to dozens of different inquires for the same company. The consequent bureaucracy made it slow and expensive to implement the programs. However, since the system was unified, any company within the MWD service area may submit one single application regrouping all its divisions. One additional advantage is the fact that, when business customers request retrofits for a large number of units, manufactures are able to offer lower prices and installations costs. Besides rebates for retrofits and installations, Metropolitan drives the Industrial Process Improvement Program, which provides financial incentives on a pay-for-performance basis for improving water efficiency in industrial processes. It is important to note that while dealing with commercial and industrial water users, sometimes savings on water bills in not enough reason for them to adopt water-saving measures. Actually, what these customers are looking for when making an investment is, not only making a financial profit, but also improving the business itself by making it more efficient. This is the reason why high efficiency toilets, for instance, may not seem very appealing for a businessman. On the other hand, devices such as the waterbroom do have and additional benefit for the business, as, a part from using less water (between 3 and 6 times less than a regular hose), it makes sweeping easier (75% less labor is required) and dries the floor faster. This is another good example of how California implements its conservation plans, not by the force of the law driven by the dictatorship of decision makers, but instead sweetening its programs using its well developed marketing tools. Landscaping As it happens in private landscaping, efficient irrigation systems are one of the keys to cut down water use in large non-residential lawns. In order to improve customer's access to WBIC, the Region-wide Commercial, Industrial and Institutional Program vendor now is in charge of the marketing and supply of "smart" irrigation controllers. As it happens in private landscaping, efficient irrigation systems are one of the keys to cut down water use in large non-residential lawns. In order to improve customer's access to WBIC, the Region-wide Commercial, Industrial and Institutional Program vendor now is in charge of the marketing and supply of "smart" irrigation controllers. 32 Comparative water management practices in California and Spain Moreover, since 2004 the MWD runs a large landscape program that give member agencies the possibility of choosing among three different water-savings strategies. First, Water Use Accountability provides efficient irrigation water budgets and assists customers to achieve potential savings. Incentives are $6.2/ha/month if Metropolitan provides the training and $8.6 if the agency does. Secondly, Measured Water Savings incentives are provided based on accomplishments made by WBIC. For every thousand m3 of verified savings, Metropolitan offers $93 and up to $125 are available when the agency provides the training. Finally, direct rebates are available for commercial and institutional customers to purchase WBIC benefiting from $1236/ha. In addition, technical guidance and training classes are offered for free via Professional Protector del Agua (PPDA) sponsored by the Metropolitan and the participating water agencies. b) Innovation programs Innovation programs provide funding for the pursuit of new ideas and development of innovative technologies. Often manufacturers and individuals come up with innovative water-savings ideas. However, these new devices need substantial funding to be tested and eventually, brought to a larger scale. Metropolitan and the US Bureau of reclamation sponsor the Innovative Conservation Program, which every two years provides $500,000 in grants for the review of proposals and funding of the selected projects. In the best of the cases, funded pilot projects will bring successful results and will further be included in state-wide conservation programs. Actually, this is what has happened with the waterbroom and the X-ray film processing water recyclers, after they were developed by a ICP grant in 2001. In addition, the Innovative Supply Program was created to review the number of proposals received by Metropolitan regarding new sources of supply. In 2004, 10 projects were selected among which there were an improvement for a storm water groundwater replenishment system and new approaches for recycled water using on-site, localized treatment.. 4.4. Urban Water Conservation in Spain Unlike California, Spain has no public organization in charge of the design and implementation of urban water conservation measures. However, the Ministry of Environment (MMA) together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery and Food have recently created the National Drought Observatory (ONS) that will gather all departments and government bodies related to water management in order to built a centralized source of information that will help to improve nationwide drought mitigation projects. Eventually the ONS could include water conservation programs, although today is not one of its first priorities. As far as local water agencies goes, none of the largest five Spanish cities has any urban water conservation plan similar to those existing in Los Angeles, San Diego or San Francisco. Even though large cities like Madrid and Barcelona post some information about water scarcity and savings recommendations on their websites, there is no sign of any rebate or personal educational program. In order to find out more about municipal water conservation initiatives, during the development of this research project water agencies of Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza, Alicante and Murcia were directly contacted. Only Barcelona and Valencia water agencies answered providing some information about their educational campaigns but none of them happens to carry out aggressive conservation measures as Californian water agencies do. City of Valencia water agency, EMIVASA, has developed a drought mitigation plans that includes measures to be implement before a drought is declared Comparative water management practices in California and Spain 33 (loss reduction and quality improvement) and during the drought period (education, restrictions and changes in water rates). 4.4.1. Seville and Murcia, two examples of urban water conservation initiatives Although in Spain there is no current retrofitting or education program comparable to those of California, it has been found that certain regions like Seville and Murcia are indeed moving in that direction. Seville Water Agency (EMASESA) includes on its website very useful and accurate information about low flow devices (faucets and toilets). Despite the lack of rebates, EMASESA encourages its customers to purchase water efficient devices by providing detailed information on potential savings as well as a comprehensive list of stores where this kind of devices are available. In July 2006 the Murcia Autonomous Community passed 10946 Law about increased savings and conservation measures for water consumption. The Law highlights the threat of a drought and the consequent need for water savings throughout the Region. Like the California 1992 Plumbing Code, Article 2 of 10946 Law states that suitable water conservation devices must be installed in all newly constructed homes in order to achieve the maximal level of possible water savings. Also, large modifications or integral repairs in existing buildings are subject to the same requirements as new constructions, which are specified in Article 2. In addition, volunteer water savings projects may qualify for a 10% reduction on the consumption conditions on the water bill during the first year. As regards public buildings, timers and low flow devices as well as notices about water scarcity conservation are required. Industrial facilities must be provided with water recycling systems and in recognition of achieved water savings they may become eligible for reductions in water rates. Irrigation systems for public or private green areas must consist of close circuits and include low flow irrigation devices as well as time and soil moisture controllers. Failure to comply with any of the Law's requirements may lead to economical sanctions up to 600,000 or even suspension of water supply. As far as loses goes, detailed studies will be carried out to identify and eliminate leakage within the networks. Also, the distribution systems must be operated at the lowest pressure necessary in order to reduce loses. In terms of institutional actions, The Region of Murcia has also made an important effort regarding water conservation by creating the Regional Water Advisory Council. Similar to the California Urban Water Conservation Council, the Regional Water Advisory Council of Murcia will monitor water conservation actions and will release an annual report including savings achievements and future initiatives. The Council will offer awards recognizing outstanding water savings and conservation practices. 4.5. Discussion Traditionally water resources have been managed from the point of view of supply, yet today much effort is put into managing demand. Water use efficiency measures have proved themselves able to achieve important water savings and thus increase water supply availably that could be called on during dry seasons. Water use efficiency, also referred as water conservation, consists of the reduction of non-beneficial water uses such as losses and squandering. In addition to enhanced water management, less water use also means less energy use to convey and treat resources and wastewater. 34 Comparative water management practices in California and Spain In this section we've analyzed urban water demand and conservation practices in California and Spain. Despite both regions' similarities in terms of water supply, population and economical power, California water demand is double that of Spain. DWR and many public water agencies in California are carrying out aggressive conservation programs, unlike Spain where there is no comparable water conservation plan. First, the State of California has made available a series of grants and loans for local agencies to implement water use efficiency measures. Potential water savings are estimated from 1.4 to 2.6 hm3 per year by 2030 resulting from six levels of investment that range from $99 million to $236 million annually. Average unit cost of water savings ranges from $0.42/m3 to $0.18/m3. Overall marginal cost of water conservation drops as annual investment increases. As a result of locally cost-effective water efficiency programs, by 2030 urban water use would be 10% to 18% lower that it would be following the current trend. It is worth pointing out that the technical potential could achieve a 27% reduction, although the State estimates that it will not be cost-effective. Second, the California Urban Water Conservation Council (CUWCC) encourages water agencies and urban customers to implement water use efficiency measures. The participating parties voluntarily sing an agreement known as the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by which they commit adopt the established Best Management Practices (BMPs) in order to increase water conservation. Since the Council was founded in 1991, the BMP have achieved over 2,255 millions of cubic meters in urban water savings. Third, many local water suppliers also carry out their own water conservation programs at a local scale. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MED) carries out one of the most outstanding urban water use efficiency programs. In order to mitigate the effects of the 1987-1991 drought, MWD called on conservation and therefore achieved 10% reduction in demand. During the last 15 years per capita water use has remained relatively stable as a result of continuous water conservation efforts. MWD's programs are based on the CUWCC's BMP as well as self-developed education campaigns and rebates programs. Residential, commercial and industrial customers may be reimbursed by MWD for total or part of the price when purchasing water use efficiency devices including landscape sprinklers, toilets, clothes washers, faucets and other innovative devices. Between 1900 and 2006 MWD invested over $187 million in residential, landscaping and commercial programs that achieved a total of 1,163 million cubic meters in water savings ($0.161/m3 on average). The largest water savings occurred in the residential sector (80% of total savings) although landscaping water conservation is largely more cost effective. Fourth, municipal water agencies such as Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) provide their customers with additional rebates to encourage urban water conservation. In Spain there is no public grant program comparable to that of the DWR any or independent conservation council similar to the CUWCC. However, the Ministry if Environment (MMA) does promote efficient water management laws and provides certain water conservation guidelines for every Hydrologic Region through its Drought Mitigation Plans (Planes de Sequia). As far as local initiative goes, in 2006 the Region of Murcia passed an aggressive water conservation law, which includes mandatory retrofitting for newly constructed buildings as well as 10% reduction in water bill for customers introducing volunteer upgrades. Moreover, Seville Water Agency provides a comprehensive list of water efficient devices and encourages retrofitting by pointing out potential water savings. Similar programs to that of the MWD could be implemented although it is unlikely that the same results and cost-effectiveness of California would be achieved in Spain. In fact, more Comparative water management practices in California and Spain 35 urban water is used within the Metropolitan Water District service area than in Spain, yet Spain's is almost 40 times larger in terms of surface. As previously shown, the larger the water savings, the lower the unit cost. Thus, in order for Spain to achieve similar cost- efficiency and water savings to those of the MWD, conservation programs should be spread nationwide. Every local water agency would only be able to target little water conservation objectives, which would consequently increase the marginal cost of the savings. Water marketing is one of the major tools in urban water management. However, due to its policy and financial complexity water marketing has not been tackled in this thesis. We strongly suggest that further studies should carry out a comparison of California and Spain's water rates and water rights. 4.6. Summary and Conclusions To summarize, we point out the following conclusions: • Per capita residential water use in California is 3.6 times higher than in Spain: 614 liters/person/day and 164 liters/person/day, respectively. The many reason for such difference is the fact that 70% of residential water in California is used outdoor for private landscaping, which is virtually nonexistent in Spain. In fact, indoor residential water use in California is 176 liters/person/day, which is only 8% higher than in Spain. • Generally speaking, the price of urban water in Spain is much higher than in California, around two times higher depending on the region, rate block, etc. However, prices cannot be directly compared because they vary largely depending on the region and the water agencies involved. Moreover, prices charged to water users in Spain often include the cost of sewer conveyance and treatment. • Commercial and industrial water demand in California is 2.4 times higher than in Spain. Furthermore, Spanish productivity doubles that of California: for every cubic meter used by industrial and commercial customers, Spain generates $1,504 but California only $838. • Distribution systems in Spain are more inefficient than in California. Percentage of urban water loses in Spain is 18%, almost twice as much as the average in California. • Since the drought of 1987-1991, California carries out aggressive urban water conservation programs at all levels, from local agencies to Department of Water Resources, to large retailers such as Metropolitan Water District and voluntary associations like the California Urban Water Conservation Council. In contrast, Spain's actions are limited to educational campaigns and establishment of general conservation guideless. • Some Spanish water authorities such as Seville Water Agency and the Region of Murcia are moving towards water conservation strategies similar to those of California. • Water conservation for large landscaping is 2.6 to 3.6 times more cost-effective and has a larger potential application compared to residential and commercial uses. Efficient irrigation devices like new generation nozzles have huge water savings potential and are cheaper to install compared to indoor devices, like toilets, clothes- washers and commercial machinery. Overall unit cost of water savings decreases with the level of investment. 36 Comparative water management practices in California and Spain In addition, we think the following recommendations should be followed: • Assuming that Californians are not willing to give up their private green spaces, they should at least optimize irrigation by installing "smart irrigators" and grow native plants that are less water-consuming. • Because the reasons for difference in commercial and industrial productivity between California and Spain have not been analyzed, future research in this area is strongly encouraged. • Public water agencies in Spain should make major investments to improve their networks and cut down unnecessary squandering of water and energy entailed by losses. Only by reducing loses to the level of California, 500 hm3 would be saved every year nationwide. • California could save additional 142 hm3/year if every urban area achieved water conservation at the level of MWD (2.6% of supply). Assuming equal percentage of savings, we estimate Spain's urban water conservation potential in 104 hm3/year • Spanish water agencies should carry out aggressive water conservation programs wherever this would be cost-effective. In addition, they should join ventures to create a nationwide conservation commission, similar to California Urban Water Conservation Council (CUWCC). • Californian and Spanish water agencies should invest in large conservation programs targeting huge savings because they tend to be more cost-effective. Moreover, efficient landscaping programs should be prioritized, compared to those targeting commercial water use.
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National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium Announces Partnership with Premier Exhibitions. Inc. and RMS Titanic, Inc.
Dubuque, Iowa – The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium is thrilled to announce a partnership with the leading provider of museum-quality exhibitions throughout the world Premier Exhibitions, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRXI), and RMS Titanic, Inc., to host new Exhibition in summer 2015.
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition will open at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in May 2015.
Premier Exhibitions, Inc. is recognized as a leader in developing and displaying unique exhibitions for education and entertainment including Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, BODIES...The Exhibition, Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs, Real Pirates in partnership with National Geographic and Pompeii: The Exhibition.
In addition, Premier Exhibitions, Inc. wholly owned subsidiary RMS Titanic, Inc., serves as the exclusive steward of RMS Titanic which tragically sank on April 15, 1912. The Company is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Ship, wreck site and all her passengers and crew through educational, historical, scientific and conservation based programs, partnerships and Exhibitions.
For more information about Premier Exhibitions, Inc. visit: www.PremierExhibitions.com.
To inquire about sponsorship opportunities at the Museum & Aquarium contact: Erin Dragotto, Development Director, firstname.lastname@example.com, 563-557-9545.
Try a unique, new class! Enjoy yoga by the Gulf of Mexico Aquarium in the National River Center. Classes are taught by instructors from Twisted Root Yoga Studio in Dubuque. Open to ages 16 and up, beginners welcome. Limited mats will be available to participants new to yoga. To register, click here and select dates. Registration closes Thursday before each scheduled class.
Dive into our NEW summer camps sessions for a one of a kind experience. Camp sessions are for children in entering Kindergarten through middle school and include innovative activities, live animal encounters, games and crafts. Themes for 2015 are Kinder-Kamp, H2Oh Yeah!, Infinite Insects, and The Working River! For details on programs and registration information, click here to download. Registration is required by July 1, 2015.
The Museum & Aquarium offers a program for toddlers on a Tuesday of each month. The Toddler Tuesday Program is for children ages 2 to 4 years old. Each month features a new theme and fun activities, including a story and craft project too!
The theme for April is 'L is for Largemouth Bass and May 19th is "M is for Mammal". Cost is just $5 per child and FREE for the one accompanying adult or guardian (cost is for program only, regular admission not included).
Advance sign-up is required. Please call 563-557-9545 ext. 212 or send an email to email@example.com.
Between March 14 and 28, the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium will be hosting - Spring Break Amazing Afternoons for kids ages 5-12! Spring Breakers will experience several hands-on activities including live animal encounters, fun interactive games and crafts, and explore all of the wildlife the aquarium has to offer. Click Here for details on each camp and registration form.
Pricing for each session: $20/non-members, $15/members. Registration is required by 11:00 AM day of the program. For further information contact 563-557-9545 x 213 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
The Rivers to the Sea Gallery is home to many colorful creatures including our North Pacific Octopus. Image courtesy of Rebecca Resch.