Seattle, WashingtonSeattle Public Utilities (SPU) has worked with the University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group on two studies over the past five years to assess the potential impacts of climate change on water supply in Seattle and the Central Puget Sound region. The studies project that climate change will lead to reductions in supply in the region, primarily as a result of increased temperatures. SPU has also evaluated the effects on demand as a result of climate change. As part of its adaptation strategy, SPU is identifying and evaluating modifications to its existing supply system, additional conservation and new sources of supply to determine how a portfolio of options could mitigate those impacts. SPU is committed to participating in additional research to further refine our understanding of the potential impacts on supply and is exploring opportunities to complement this focus with research on water quality and other water resource issues potentially affected by climate change. The results of the first climate change study and a description of SPU’s climate change activities are included in SPU’s 2007 Water System Plan, which is available on SPU’s website.SPU has had a long history of success with water conservation programs. Between 1990 and 2006, SPU has seen a decline in average annual consumption of 24 million gallons per day despite an 11 percent increase in population. To promote conservation this summer, Seattle participated in a program that gave away more than 100,000 free high-efficiency showerheads to households in the region. These showerheads are typically at least 20 percent more water-efficient than existing ones, and their use is already saving an estimated 350,000 gallons of water every day. Plans are underway to offer free showerheads over the next three years to buildings and condo associations. The showerhead initiative is also lessening the region’s greenhouse gas emissions. As consumers use less hot water for showers, their household’s water heater uses less energy, which therefore reduces greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the city’s power utility estimates each household installing an efficient showerhead in their main bathroom will save an average of 190 kWh of electricity every year. 
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