Low-Flow SoHo

The New York Times reports that New York City, which has a current population of 8.2 million, consumes less water today than at anytime since 1951, when the population was 7.9 million. And, strange as it may seem, water consumption in the Big Apple reportedly peaked in 1979, when the city's population was at it's lowest level since 1930 -- around 7.1 million. The city now uses 28 percent less water than in 1979. That's pretty staggering when you think about it.

So, what gives? Experts say it's not so much the bottled water craze or the decline in manufacturing as it is a reflection of smart government policies; namely:

The city now requires water-saving plumbing fixtures and devices in renovations and new construction, it has been more diligent in finding and fixing leaks, and since the late 1980’s it has been metering residential customers’ water use.

Before that, apparently, building owners got the water tab, so users weren't cognizant of their own consumption. This is one to remember next time someone (Dick Cheney, for example) dismisses the efficacy of government regulations to encourage conservation. Done properly, it works