ABSTRACT
Water conservation has had negative connotations for many people because it unintentionally implies hardship and inconvenience associated with rationing. However, water conservation is not simply a matter of using less water through restrictions. It is about careful management of water supply sources, use of water-saving technologies, reduction in excessive demand, and many other actions. The term “water conservation” is strongly interchanged with “water-use efficiency.” However, it differs slightly, but either way, the benefits of saving water, money, infrastructure, topsoil, or fish are benefits that everyone can appreciate. A key principle in reinforcing the basis of water conservation strategies can be stated as the following sentence: “Water is a valuable, finite, renewable and shared resource.” The goal of this chapter is to provide a number of water-use efficiency practices which have been evaluated by many researchers. It recommends practical methods that can be carried out by facility management, maintenance personnel, and building occupants. This chapter helps investors and legislators to integrate good water conservation management activities into their existing organization and recognize which of their staff have the necessary skills to cope with those activities. This chapter intends to provide the essential ways to teach personnel how to become landscape architects.
