How Can You Help?
Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate Texas’ water resources. It’s every Texan’s responsibility to help ensure that our water systems and aquatic habitats remain rich, viable and productive for generations to come. Please do your part to enjoy water resources responsibly: be safe, obey the law and use our water wisely.
Household Conservation
What’s your Water IQ? Learn the source of your drinking water at www.wateriq.org, and tell your friends and neighbors.
Things you can do around the house to conserve water:
- Install low-flush toilets and showerheads.
- Use less water in your bath.
- Take a shower instead of filling the tub and taking a bath.
- Turn off water when brushing your teeth or shaving.
- Keep a jug of water in the refrigerator so you don’t run the tap until water turns cool. Insulate pipes and water heater to avoid running the tap until water turns hot.
- Wash full loads of clothes and dishes.
- Rinse dishes in a pan not under running water.
- Check all water line connections and faucets for slow leaks.
- Fix leaks! A slow leak drip can waste as much as 170 gallons of water each day or 5,000 gallons per months and will add to the water bill.
- Rainwater Harvesting.
- Rainwater harvesting ranges from a barrel in the front yard to a contractor-designated system through which rainwater is caught from the rooftop and siphoned by pipes or gutters into a storage tank.
- The quality of rainwater almost always exceeds that of groundwater or surface water, as long as the roof or catchment area is clean and free of contaminants.
- Consider purchasing a high efficiency washing machine which can save over 50% in laundry water and energy use.
- Wash fruits and vegetables in a basin. Use a vegetable brush.
- Do not use water to defrost frozen foods; thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
- Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher; wash only full loads.
- Add food wastes to your compost pile instead of using the garbage disposal.
- Never pour oil or chemicals down drains or storm sewers.
- Avoid over-fertilizing and then watering lawns. Excess chemicals run off and end up in your streams and waterways.
- Don’t flush your meds
- You might have a cache of unwanted medications, but don’t flush them. Science shows that the therapeutants can show up in water you drink. They can also feminize fish that swim in it – that is, turn the boys into girls. The U.S. Geological Survey found trace amounts of common pharmaceuticals for depression, codeine, antibiotics, blood pressure and diabetes in streams in 30 states. To learn more about what you can do where you live, go to www.smarxtdisposal.net. Source: USFWS: Eddies, Winter 2008 If there is not an approved facility near you, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends mixing the drugs with "undesirable substances" such as kitty litter or coffee grounds, wrap it up in a sealed container and put it in the trash.
Water-Wise Landscaping
Xeriscaping, saving water and energy through creative landscaping, offers many benefits, including low maintenance and resistance to pests and drought.
Here are some tips:
- Water established trees and shrubs once a month or less.
- Use mulches in flower beds to prevent water loss.
- Mow grass with blades elevated to establish deeper roots for better water use.
- Pick native Texas plants that don’t require much water.
- Water grass only when it shows signs of wilting.
- Water after dark to avoid evaporation.
- Turn off automatic sprinkler systems when you know it’s going to rain.
- Sweep driveways, sidewalks and steps rather than hosing off.
- Wash the car with water from a bucket, or consider using a commercial car wash that recycles water.
- When using a hose, control the flow with an automatic shut-off nozzle.
- Let it grow. Taller grass (3” or more) absorbs water better and provides shade for the roots & leave clippings on the lawn.
Future Considerations
Municipalities are considering water conservation measures such as:
- Community watering restrictions.
- Xeriscape and native plant landscaping.
- Water leak detection programs (estimates are that 30 to 50% of water could be lost in minor leaks).
- Increasing the cost of water to more closely reflect the true cost of providing and treating water.
- Transferring water from one river basin to another river basin area to meet water demands.
- Recycling water within a water treatment facility.
- Restoration of wetlands.
- Incentive programs for businesses and individuals who install lower water-use appliances and use "green building" practices.
- Active water conservation education programs in schools and in the community
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