Water Conservation

Conserving water and using it wisely are the keys to guaranteeing we have plenty of water for future use.

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Conserving water is very important for many reasons: the fresh water supply on earth is set, our population is growing, so we need to conserve now so that there will be enough to go around today and in the future. In Texas, available freshwater is very limited. This means we need to conserve more than other places. Thankfully, conservation is easy. Small lifestyle adjustments can make an enormous difference in the amount of water we each use, and save.

Examples of easy conservation activities in the home include: Wash only full loads of laundry; only start the dishwasher when fully loaded; if washing dishes by hand, fill the sink with soapy water instead of leaving the faucet running; take short showers instead of baths; defrost food in the refrigerator overnight instead of under running water.

Outdoor conservation activities include: Plant trees and grasses native to the area to reduce watering needs; when washing the car, use a bucket of soapy water and turn off the water hose while scrubbing; put mulch around plants, keeping roots moist longer reducing the need to water; water lawns at the coolest time of day/evening to reduce loss to evaporation.

Home Improvement Projects:

• Eventually, all things have to be repaired or replaced. Simple maintenance and smart investments are two money saving ways to conserve water.
• Check for leaky pipes and faucets regularly. Repairing the leak is cheaper than paying for lost water in the long run.
• When purchasing new water using appliances and fixtures, why not buy ones designed to save water? This investment is good for the environment and your water bill. Water saving appliances currently available include dishwashers, washing machines and toilets. You can also buy low flow shower heads, which more pressure with less water, and faucet aerators, which increase the pressure of less water coming from the tap.

Benefits of Water Conservation: Saving water saves money; saves energy; extends the life of water using appliances; good for the environment, putting less pressure on our aquifers and reservoirs; and it preserves this resource for future use.

If every person makes small water saving changes, this can add up to make a very large difference for our water future.