In 2012 Saratoga Springs conducted a study to find out how much water the residents were using. They knew it had to be high compared to what the system was designed for because operators struggled to keep enough water in the system. Residents were using more than twice as much water as the system was designed for. In an effort to help residents better understand their secondary water use and help initiate water conservation, the city decided to install meters on every connection. Although the installation process had its share of issues and complications, the results have been dramatic. Even before the metered usage showed up on the bill, the water use dropped significantly. By the time a rate restructuring took place and the usage actually affected the bill, most residents were pros at using the right amount of water.
