Water Conservation
Waterfowl cannot exist without water.
Water is an indispensable resource at Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy. It is essential for natural waterfowl activities: breeding, courtship display, exercise, and foraging.
We have taken steps to reduce our dependence on inconsistent rainfall, to minimize our impact on local water resources, and to strengthen our water infrastructure.
2018: Bog Filtration System
Conserves ~1 million gallons of water annually
Cleans and filters water feeding four of our waterfowl habitats, including that of our critically endangered Siberian cranes
2023: Rainwater Harvesting System
Doubled our rainwater harvesting capacity
Increased our rainwater storage by 60% to 27,000 gallons
In the last five years, we’ve taken steps to conserve over 2 million gallons of water annually.
And that’s just the beginning…
Planned Natural Water Filtration System in 2025
Our goal is to construct a new waterfowl habitat with a first-of-its-design bog filtration system to supply clean, running water.
Construction would result in at least an additional 1.5 million gallons of conserved water — and potentially twice that
Existing pond - one of our “Twin Ponds”
New water pump with UV filtration
Water will be piped up to a trunk line that will feed 8 new ponds
New ponds - the foundation of new waterfowl habitats - will be filled with clean, UV-filtered water; as they are filled, older water will be flushed out of the ponds into a pipe system
Older water is piped into a new bog
New bog, which will be planted with native Connecticut flora to act as a natural filtration system, cleaning and filtering the water that flows through it
Clean, filtered water will be piped back into the initial, existing pond
Cleaner water will then flow downstream to other existing ponds
Take Part
By visiting, becoming a member, or donating to Ripley, you allow us to focus on this critical work—the conservation of rare and endangered waterfowl–for years to come.