Columbia University Students Presenting Water Conservation Program

Columbia University seniors will present the results of their research project on non-emergency water conservation programs to the Rockland County Legislature’s Environmental Committee on Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. The study was requested by Committee Chair Alden Wolfe as a followup to a spring 2012 study of conservation progams.

The students created case studies on non-emergency outdoor water conservation ordinances adopted in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, Sharon, MA, Cary and Chapel Hill, NC, Orange Co., CA and Santa Fe, NM. Their  presentation will include case study highlights and conclusions from the group of communities studied. 

Director of the County’s Bureau of Water Supply Dr. Daniel Miller commissioned the Spring 2012 study which looked at potential water savings, costs and benefits of seven different possible water conservation programs. The students began their research as part of the Fall 2012 semester of the University’s Sustainable Development Workshop with the guidance of Adjunct Associate Research Scientist Stuart Braman of Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades.  

Additionally, the students conducted a sensitivity analysis of the Spring 2012 results to assess the stability and volatility of water savings and cost effectiveness estimates. An overview of the sensitivity analysis will also be presented.

“I’m looking forward to hearing about the possible opportunities to create the water conservation policy contemplated by our Comprehensive Plan,” said Wolfe.