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Environmental Sustainability and Water Conservation Flashcards

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Read the first 7 Environmental Sustainability and Water Conservation flashcards as text

  1. Which AWWA-endorsed methodology provides a standardized framework for utilities to perform water loss audits and calculate their infrastructure leakage index (ILI)?

    Answer: AWWA M36 Free Water Audit Software methodology

    The AWWA M36 water audit methodology and accompanying free software provide utilities a standardized, validated approach to quantify water losses and calculate the ILI benchmark.

  2. A utility implements aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) to store treated water underground during wet periods for use during droughts. What is the primary sustainability benefit?

    Answer: Balances seasonal supply and demand while reducing reliance on surface water during low-flow periods

    ASR stores surplus treated water in aquifers during high-supply periods and recovers it during peak demand or drought, effectively banking water and reducing surface water withdrawals when flows are critically low.

  3. Utilities track sustainability performance using benchmarking. Which organization provides the primary benchmarking and performance indicator framework used by U.S. water and wastewater utilities?

    Answer: American Water Works Association (AWWA)

    AWWA's Utility Benchmarking program and its QualServe initiative provide standardized performance indicators that allow utilities to compare operational, financial, and environmental metrics against peers.

  4. Climate change adaptation planning for a water utility most critically requires addressing which operational risk?

    Answer: Shifts in precipitation patterns affecting source water availability and quality

    Climate change alters precipitation, temperature, and hydrology, directly threatening source water quantity and quality—making supply reliability and treatment adaptability the primary operational risks to address.

  5. Active leak detection programs using acoustic correlators and district metered areas (DMAs) primarily help utilities accomplish which goal?

    Answer: Locate and repair hidden distribution system leaks to reduce real water losses

    Acoustic correlators and DMAs enable proactive identification of hidden pipe leaks in the distribution system before they surface, directly reducing real (physical) water losses.

  6. Which term describes a comprehensive plan that sets long-term water supply and demand projections to ensure a utility can reliably serve customers 20–50 years into the future?

    Answer: Integrated water supply plan (IWSP) or urban water management plan

    An integrated water supply plan (or urban water management plan in some states) projects long-term demand, evaluates supply options, and guides infrastructure and conservation investments to maintain reliability across a planning horizon.

  7. Potable water reuse (direct and indirect) has expanded as a sustainable supply option. What is the primary regulatory concern that utilities must address before implementing a potable reuse program?

    Answer: Demonstrating that advanced-treated recycled water meets all drinking water quality standards and public health protections

    Potable reuse requires rigorous treatment and monitoring to ensure the water meets or exceeds all EPA drinking water standards, addressing public health protection and regulatory compliance as the paramount concern.