The purpose of this website is to raise awareness about the importance of water; explain the current and projected water usage and unmet needs; and influence all citizens to take an active role in improving the conservation, preservation and protection of water resources and drinking water supply.

Conservation measures result in the overall reduction in total water demand, which reduce both the need for groundwater withdrawals and the need for surface water conversion.
ss to safe drinking water.

WORLD WATER FACTS
1.1 billion people – one-sixth of the world’s population – lack access to safe drinking water.

2.5 billion people have no access to proper sanitation

More than 5 million people die each year from water-related diseases. Even where supplies are sufficient or plentiful, they are increasingly at risk from pollution and rising demand. Without increased conservation efforts, better management of water resources and related ecosystems, two-thirds of the world’s population will suffer from severe or moderate shortages by the year 2025.

WORLD WATER FACTS
1.1 billion people – one-sixth of the world’s population – lack access to safe drinking water.

2.5 billion people have no access to proper sanitation

More than 5 million people die each year from water-related diseases. Even where supplies are sufficient or plentiful, they are increasingly at risk from pollution and rising demand. Without increased conservation efforts, better management of water resources and related ecosystems, two-thirds of the world’s population will suffer from severe or moderate shortages by the year 2025.

TEXAS WATER FACTS
By the year 2050, Texas population is expected to double from 20 million to 40 million. According to the state water plan, Water for Texas 2002. Texas has an annual unmet need of 2.4 million acre-feet of water. By 2050 those unmet needs are projected to triple to 7.5 million acre-feet. Almost 900 cities (representing 38 percent of the projected population) and other water users will need to either reduce demand (through conservation and/or drought management) or develop additional sources of water beyond those currently available to.

Texas has a long history of drought conditions. In 1996, 1998 and 2000, Texas suffered from significant drought, resulting in combined economic losses of more than $6 billion. A City of Houston Drought Management Plan was approved by City Council in 1998 and will go into effect if drought conditions occur.

REGIONAL WATER FACTS – San Jacinto-Brazos Coastal Basin
The San Jacinto-Brazos Coastal Basin is bounded on the north by the San Jacinto River Basin, on the east by Galveston Bay and the Trinity-San Jacinto Coastal Basin, and on the west by the Brazos River Basin. The total drainage area of the San Jacinto-Brazos Coastal Basin is 1,440 square miles, the majority of the area consisting of small, tidally influenced streams draining into Galveston Bay or West Bay. Local economy is based on manufacturing, agriculture, trades, services, commercial shipping and fishing, and tourism.

Current Water Supplies – There are no major surface water reservoirs with conservation (water supply) storage in the basin. The only major water supply available within the basin is groundwater from the Gulf Coast Aquifer. All other supplies are imported from the Brazos, Trinity, or the San Jacinto river basins. The City of Houston provides treated water to a number of cities in the basin that have or are converting from groundwater to surface water in compliance with the Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District mandate.

CITY OF HOUSTON
The City of Houston obtains 65 percent of its drinking water from the San Jacinto River through Lake Conroe and Lake Houston, and the Trinity River through Lake Livingston. Currently, 35% of our water comes from very deep wells from the Evangeline and Chicot Aquifers. Although Houston receives an average annual rainfall of 50 inches, almost 90 percent runs off into Galveston Bay because of Houston’s non-porous vitreous clay surface. Therefore, it is important for Houstonians to conserve water to reduce water treatment costs and meet our future needs to keep pace with population growth. The City of Houston’s 2001 Water Quality Report provides information about our drinking water.

Houston and surrounding geographic area has suffered from the effects of subsidence, the irreversible sinking of land caused by pumping groundwater. Conserving water will help reduce groundwater pumpage and the devastating effects of subsidence.

The City of Houston may accept donation of irrigation systems located in esplanades of City roadways that meet specific Procedures and Specifications. Read the Acceptance of Deeds to Newly Constructed and/or Existing Irrigation Systems in City Esplanades to find out if an esplanade in your neighborhood is eligible for such a donation.

A HOUSTON SUCCESS STORY
KENNEDY PLACE CONSERVATION PROJECT

A 1996 City of Houston water conservation project implemented at Kennedy Place, a local low-income housing development, found that water consumption was reduced by 72 percent, and the complex gained a 79 percent savings on its monthly water bill by replacing old plumbing fixtures with newer, more efficient water-saving models.

This was accomplished at the 60-unit, multifamily housing development by:

The average water consumption in this 60-unit complex dropped from 4,924 gallons per person per month (or 164 gallons per person per day) to 1,390 gallons per month (or 46 gallons per day). And housing authority officials were pleased that more than 95 % of the tenants expressed satisfaction with their new fixtures. The City of Houston Housing Authority saw a return on their investment (for equipment and labor) in less than four months.

Another 100-unit Houston housing development received similar plumbing retrofittings and benefitted by a cost reduction of 26% and a use reduction of 39%.

A similar study done by Austin’s water conservation program resulted in a 25 percent reduction is water use overall in 45 apartment complexes, with some apartment complexes reducing use as much as 50 percent. The Austin apartment study resulted in a savings of 14,5000 gallons per apartment per year. And this does not include the energy savings (electricity/gas) due to reduced hot water use for showers and faucets.

LEAKY FAUCETS COST YOU $$$$$
It’s amazing how fast small leaks can add up to big bucks !!

DESCRIPTION OF LEAK	APPROX. GALLONS WASTED PER MONTH
A slow drip	250
100/drips/minute	1,000
Small stream-faucet	5,000
Toilet flapper hung partially OPEN	50,000
Bathtub faucet, fully open	200,000
Outdoor faucet, fully open	500,000
One inch hose, fully open	1,000,000
Remember: It does save $$$ to retrofit.

WATER EFFICIENCY MEASURES - In and Around the Home

(Provided by the City of Houston Water Conservation Program, Department of Public Works & Engineering. For additional water conservation information, please call 713-837-0473. For City of Houston Water Customer Service, dial 713-371-1400 .)

Leaky Faucets Cost You $$$$$$$

Here’s how YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IN THE KITCHEN
Install faucet aerators to reduce water consumption.
Use a dishpan for washing and rinsing dishes. Scrape dishes rather than rinsing before washing.
Wash fruits and vegetables in a partially-filled sink or pan instead of running water from the tap.
Don’t use running water to thaw food.
Operate appliances (dishwashers and clothes washers) when Full saves up to 600 gallons each month. Newer water-efficient washing machines can save up to 20 gallons per load.
Appliances offering several different cycles are more water and energy-efficient.
Front-loading clothes washers use 1/2 the water, 1/3 less detergent and 1/3 less energy than top-loaders.
Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator rather than running the faucet for cool water on a hot day.
Designate one glass for your drinking water each day. You’ll run your dishwasher less often.
Compost leftover fruits, vegetables and eggshells rather than using the garbage disposal.

IN THE BATHROOM
Replace old toilets and showerheads with low-flow fixtures if your home was built before 1992. Switching to water-efficient fixtures can save the average household between $50 and $100 per year on water and sewer bills. Low-flow toilets use only 1.6 gallons per flush. Water-efficient showerheads use 2.5 gallons or less per minute. If your showerhead can fill a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace it.
Take short showers; use a showerhead with a temporary shutoff valve to turn water off while soaping or shampooing. Turn the water off while you shampoo and condition your hair and you can save more than 50 gallons a week. Reduce the level of bathtub water by one or two inches if a shower is not available.Plug the bathtub drain before turning the water on, and then adjust the temperature as the tub fills.
Listen for dripping faucets and toilets that flush themselves. Fixing a leak can save thousands of gallons each month. Replace the flapper in the toilet if it sticks open after flushing.
Test toilets for leaks. Add a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet in the tank, but do not flush the toilet. If the coloring appears in the toilet bowl, the toilet has a silent leak.
Turn the water off when brushing teeth, shaving, and washing hands and save approximately 4 gallons a minute or 200 gallons a week for a family of four. Turn off the water while you shave and you can save more than 100 gallons a week.
Deposit trash and cigarette butts in garbage cans rather than down the toilet. This saves water and reduces the burden on municipal sewage treatment plants and home septic tanks.
Insulate all hot water pipes to reduce the delays (and wasted water) experienced while waiting for the water to “run hot”. (Lowering the thermostat on the water heater also saves energy & money.)

OUTDOORS
Minimize evaporation by watering plants during evening or early morning hours.
Group your plants according to their water needs to get the most from your watering time.

Set a kitchen timer when watering your lawn or garden or install a water shut-off appliance with a timer.

Purchase non-toxic household cleaning products and lawn care chemicals whenever possible. Use water-based products whenever possible. Read labels and ask the experts.

Attach an automatic shut-off nozzle to your hose. Use a hose nozzle and turn off the water while you wash your car and save more than 100 gallons. Wash pets and cars on the lawn rather than on concrete driveways. Clean up after your pets; pet waste contains nutrients and pathogens that can contaminate surface water. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway and sidewalk and save up to 80 gallons of water every time.

Don’t buy recreational water toys that require a constant flow of water.

Check outdoor faucets, pipes, and hoses for leaks.
Check your water meter and bill to track your water usage.

Only water your lawn when needed. You can tell this by simply walking across your lawn. If you leave footprints, it’s time to water.

Dispose of unwanted chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides and their empty containers at local hazardous waste collection centers. Do NOT pour them down the drain and NEVER pour them on the ground.

Avoid fertilizing before or during rain to reduce runoff. Before applying fertilizers, have your soil tested. Over-fertilization is a major source of contamination for our lakes and streams. Keep storm gutters and drains free of leaves, trash and yard-trimmings. Use slow-release fertilizers where the potential for water contamination is high, such as sandy or compacted soils, or near waterways. Use soaker hoses or other slow-watering techniques for lawn and flowerbeds.
Adjust automatic sprinkler systems monthly and reduce watering schedule in cooler months.

Spread a layer of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and save hundreds of gallons of water a year.

When cleaning your fish tank, use the water you’ve drained on your plants. The water is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, providing you with a free and effective fertilizer.

Inspect vehicles often for fluid leaks and excess emissions. Place an absorbent pad underneath automobiles to catch fluid leaks. Recycle used oil and antifreeze. One Quart of oil can contaminate up to two million gallons of drinking water.

Check for hidden leaks between the water meter and the house. Turn off all faucets and water-using appliances and check the meter at 20-minute intervals; if the meter gauge moves, a leak probably exists and needs to be located and repaired.

Locate your master water shut-off valve before an emergency situation occurs. This could save thousands of gallons of water and damage to your home if a pipe were to burst.

RECYCLE oil, paint, pesticides and other water pollutants at the nearest City of Houston Recycling Center. Call 713-837-9130 for the nearest location.

VOLUNTEER your time for neighborhood, park or waterway clean-up activities.

More tips to reduce water consumption and protect our water supply are
available at: www.Houstonwaterconservation.org
www.Wateruseitwisely.com
www.epa.gov/owm and many other sites on the Web.

TO REDUCE HEAT DAMAGE TO TURFGRASS
Americans spend $45 billion a year on grounds/lawn maintenance. Turfgrass is the largest crop in the U.S., larger than wheat or corn. Drought is a fact of life most of us have to deal with at some point. Whether the period of abnormally low moisture is long or short, you can prepare for your lawn's survival. Here are some tips from the Turf Resource Center, an international nonprofit organization.

30 to 45 days prior to drought or hot weather conditions
Increase water absorption by punching tiny holes in the lawn surface.
Water deeply, infrequently and only late at night or early in the morning.
Sharpen mower blades 2-3 times per season and set blades at highest setting.
Never remove more than the top third of grass blades.
Leave grass clippings on lawn for natural fertilizer.
Reduce or eliminate nitrogen fertilizer, increase potassium fertilizer.
Avoid using herbicides and pesticides that disperse in the next rain or wind.

During a week or more of extremely high temperatures
Reduce traffic on the lawn.
Increase irrigation on sloped areas, near buildings or other heat-reflecting surfaces.

During an extended drought or water-use restriction period
Eliminate all traffic on the lawn and water only the most important areas of your lawn or landscape. Accept that your lawn may be dormant and brown, but will green up nicely in the fall.

WATER EFFICIENT ALTERNATIVES
Pampered lawns can require thousands of gallons of water between weekly manicures. Want to lower water, maintenance time, energy and expense by as much as 50 percent? Reduce the amount of turf in your yard, eliminate weak, unadapted plants, and place hardy, native plants in well-mulched flowerbeds.

For more information on natural lawn care visit www.cityfarmer.org or Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission’s Green Guide to Yard Care, or http://www.lawninstitute.com/