In order to speed the process of implementing efficiency measures, the Environmental Finance Center (EFC), with the NC Water Resources Research Institute and other regional partners,offered a series of trainings across the Southeast (NC, SC and GA). This series actively engaged those most directly responsible for making decisions about water management, elected officials and water system managers.

One set of trainings was designed for utility managers and professionals, and was provided as either a one-day workshop or 30-60 minute overview. The workshop reviews the regulatory, economic, environmental and demographic background on water efficiency. But the bulk of the session was an interactive workshop designed to prepare utilities to build a plan for water efficiency using price and non-price programs that integrates with its water resource and budget planning. Participants engaged with planning tools using their own system information and left away with a healthy start to a community–specific water efficiency plan. The abbreviated overview introduced an audience to strategies, case studies and the available tools on planning for sustainable water use.

The series included a review of the utility fundamentals of water efficiency for elected officials. This review was designed to cover the importance and need for water efficiency programs, as well as an alert to the impact that these programs can have on water rates and utility budgets.