Psst: Regulation Works and NYC Uses Least Water Since 1951

The NY Times reported today (B1) today that in the 12 Months ending June 30, New York City's water use declined 5.2% since 2002, 28% since 1979, and was the lowest since 1951.

Experts say that although the popularity of bottled water and the decline of manufacturing may have had a small effect, the primary reason is the product of government policy: requiring water-saving plumbing devices (newer toilets use 1.6 gallons instead of 5; and many washing machines use less than 20 gallons per load instead of more than 40, saving both water and heating costs); diligence in fixing leaks, and residential building metering (although many apartments don't have individual meters).

There is still much room for improvement, New York's daily per capita water consumption is 136 gallons, less than many cities but substantially more than San Francisco (97).