The best way to reduce environmental waste is to give power to people with the incentives and knowledge to do more with less. A great example of that approach was just launched here in Washington state.

The Sammamish Plateau Water district introduced a new web portal and smartphone app that gives its customers the ability to track their water use and receive updates if they use more water than expected. The new technology allows consumers to save water and money.

About 10 percent of residential water use is waste, often simple things like a running toilet. Previously, a homeowner found out they had a leak or waste by looking at their monthly bill or if the utility called to warn of excess use. By that time, homeowners could have wasted huge amounts of water and watched their bill skyrocket. Now, the app will tell you if you are using more water than usual, helping catch leaks before they waste too much water.

I live in the Sammamish Plateau Water District and was part of the beta test for the system. When they announced this last week, I offered a couple thoughts about why this was important. “As a member of the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Council, I think this new portal can have real environmental significance. New information can actually change behavior. If that changed behavior prevents waste and promotes more careful use, it can help leave water in streams and promote better habitat for the recovery of Puget Sound salmon. That’s an important story here.”

Rather than top-down mandates, like requiring low-flow shower heads or other restrictions imposed on people, giving consumers information allows them to make decisions for themselves. It also provides the information necessary to save water and money.

Personal technology is providing new tools that align personal incentives with environmental sustainability. This is a good example of that positive trend that should be emulated by water districts across the state.