ABSTRACT
Water conservation can play a major role in water resource management and sustainable development. In addition to providing a dependable, locally controlled water supply, water recycling provides tremendous environmental benefits such as decreasing the diversion of water from sensitive ecosystems and using the recycled water to create or enhance wetlands and riparian habitats. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has produced a variety of resources for the public and commercial sectors highlighting the benefits of water conservation, water use efficiency, recycling, and reuse for pollution prevention and resource conservation. The EPA's Cleaner Water through Conservation focuses on the effect of excessive water use on water quality and provides residential and industrial/commercial best practices for water conservation and water use efficiency improvements. In addition to providing a dependable, locally controlled water supply, water recycling provides tremendous environmental benefits. The term conservation has been used for decades to mean more efficient usage and savings of a resource.
