Juneau Commission on Sustainability
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Water
Water and Sustainability
Water plays an essential role in our world, especially in Juneau – a place that averages over 110 inches of rain each year and relies on hydropower as its primary source of electricity.
It may seem odd to think about conserving water in a place that has so much of this resource. However, water and sustainability isn’t just about “conserving” water. It’s also about knowing how much of an impact we have on our water supply, as our actions directly influence this resource and the other resources required to sustainability manage it. For example, it takes a great deal of energy and infrastructure to process drinking water as well as wastewater around our community. Developing a better understanding of how we currently manage this process has the potential to lead to direct social and economic benefits.
The City of Juneau is currently undergoing a study to study the relationship between citizens and water resources. For more information on this study, go to: https://juneau.org/engineering-public-works/utilities-division/water-utility
Local Resources
- Juneau Watershed Partnership: Promotes community stewardship and sustainable use of Juneau’s watersheds.
- Juneau Watershed Library: The Juneau Watershed Partnership has a resource library that includes areas such as hydrology, waterbody management plans, wetlands, water rights, and water quality.
- City & Borough of Juneau Water Utility: Provides information on Juneau’s water sources.
- Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Division of Water: Information about wastewater and storm water permitting, and non-point source pollution management.
- Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Division of Environmental Health: Information about safe drinking water and drinking water protection areas.
- Alaska Dept. of Natural Resources, Mining, Land & Water: Information on hydropower development, water reservation permitting.
For tips on conserving water, check out Water Sense. WaterSense is a partnership program by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that seeks to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water with water efficient products, new home designs, and services.