AWE Use and Effectiveness of Municipal Irrigation Restrictions During Drought, Research Study and Report, January 2020

Organization: Alliance for Water Efficiency

Co-principal Investigators: Maddaus Water Management

Maddaus Water Management and Western Policy Research were co-principal investigators, conducting research and analysis, for the Study of the Use and Effectiveness of Municipal Irrigation Restrictions During Drought. This Study, and subsequent report, was sponsored by the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE), 14 participating member water agencies, and one national corporation. The Study was initiated to perform a robust analysis on the practice and impact of voluntary municipal irrigation restrictions applied during dry year conditions and mandatory restrictions subsequently required during more severe water shortages. Included in the report is a catalog of lessons learned derived from 11 detailed case studies during the most recent droughts experienced by different types of water utilities. The report also includes a summary of statewide drought responses in four states: California, Texas, Arizona, and Nevada.