Water Conservation in College Station, Texas: A Comprehensive Guide

College Station, Texas, faces increasing pressure on its water resources due to ongoing drought conditions and a growing population. This article explores the challenges and solutions related to water conservation in College Station, drawing on local initiatives and statewide programs. It serves as a guide for residents, landowners, and anyone interested in promoting water sustainability in the region.

Understanding the Water Situation in College Station

College Station, along with the Wellborn Special Utility District (WSUD), is grappling with record water usage amidst persistent drought. The situation escalated when College Station recorded a historic daily peak of 26.7 million gallons of water consumption, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts. This prompted WSUD to implement stage one of its drought contingency plan, emphasizing voluntary compliance with water usage schedules to reduce overall consumption.

Residential water use accounts for approximately 70% of annual water consumption in College Station and Bryan, with about 50% of that being used outdoors. This underscores the importance of targeting residential outdoor water use in conservation strategies.

Local Initiatives and Programs

Several local initiatives are actively working to promote water conservation in College Station:

BVWaterSmart: This educational partnership between Texas A&M University, Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District (BVGCD), and the cities of College Station and Bryan, focuses on improving residential outdoor water-use efficiency. The program began in 2010 with the goal of reducing wasteful landscape overwatering. BVWaterSmart utilizes a network of neighborhood weather stations to measure rainfall and provides personalized weekly watering notifications and residential water budgets. These budgets determine a baseline amount of water required for landscape areas and establish the efficient use of outdoor water. They also offer free residential irrigation system inspections. Since 2010, over 900 College Station homeowners have received inspections of their sprinkler systems. Thanks to conservation efforts by BVWaterSmart, water consumption remains roughly the same at ~4 billion gallons/year despite a 26% population growth since 2010, representing water savings of over 600 million gallons. Cumulative water use reduction is also associated with energy cost savings of ~$110,000/year. Sampled BVWaterSmart subscribers have successfully reduced their usage from 25% over to 3.5% below the yearly water budget.
Wellborn Special Utility District (WSUD): In response to the increasing demand, WSUD’s drought contingency plans are designed to maintain adequate water access for all residents while ensuring water towers remain full. Residents are asked to limit irrigation to twice a week and adhere to existing watering restrictions to manage water demand.

Statewide Programs and Resources

Beyond local efforts, several statewide programs contribute to water conservation and education:

Read also: Reliable Water Distribution

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Offers numerous free and affordable programs on agriculture and natural resources, family and community health, economic health, and youth development. They also offer many volunteer opportunities. With a statewide network of professional educators, trained volunteers, research partners, and community collaborators, their resources are specifically curated to meet the needs of water across the state. Related departments include Soil and Crop Sciences, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Animal Science, Ecology and Conservation Biology, Horticultural Sciences, and Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences.
Texas Water Resources Institute: Provides science-based, community-supported solutions for the state’s pressing water quantity and quality challenges through internal expertise and external collaborations.
The Healthy Lawns Healthy Waters program: Aims to improve and protect surface water quality by enhancing awareness and knowledge of best management practices for residential landscapes.
The Texas Watershed Steward (TWS) program: A statewide educational program designed to improve the quality of Texas’ water resources. The program educates and informs locals about their watershed, its potential problems, and steps people can take to improve and protect surface water quality in their area.
The Bennett Land Stewardship program: Funds conferences about land management in the Edwards Plateau, covering issues such as brush control, water management, and estate planning.
The Lone Star Healthy Streams program: Aims to protect Texas waterways from bacterial contamination from livestock operations and feral hogs that may pose a serious health risk to Texas citizens.
Texas Master Naturalist Program: Works to develop volunteers to provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources. This year, Texas A&M AgriLife celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Texas Master Naturalist Program and the impact of its vast network of community-based volunteers across the state.
Rainwater Harvesting Program: Educates the public about rainwater harvesting and other water-related issues so that we can have a sustainable water supply for generations to come.
An educational initiative: Designed to help new and inexperienced landowners understand the fundamentals of natural resource management.

Practical Water Conservation Tips for Residents

There are a number of easy ways to save water, and they all start with YOU. When you save water, you save money on your utility bills. Here are some practical tips for residents to conserve water both indoors and outdoors:

In the Kitchen

When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run while rinsing.
Some refrigerators, air conditioners, and ice-makers are cooled with wasted flows of water.
Never run the dishwasher without a full load.
Use the garbage disposal sparingly.
For cold drinks, keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap.
Use a small pan of cold water when cleaning vegetables, rather than letting the water run over them.
Use only a little water in the pot and put a lid on it for cooking most food.
Designate one glass for your drinking water each day or refill a water bottle.
Don't use running water to thaw food.
If your dishwasher is new, cut back on rinsing.
Always keep water conservation in mind, and think of other ways to save in the kitchen.
Making too much coffee or letting ice cubes melt in the sink can add up over time.

In the Bathroom

Take a shower instead of taking a bath.
Test toilets for leaks. Add a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet to the water in the tank, but do not flush the toilet. Watch to see if the coloring appears in the bowl within a few minutes.
Use a toilet tank displacement device such as a toilet dam or bag. Another alternative is filling a plastic bottle with stones or water, recapped, and placed in the toilet tank. These devices will reduce the volume of water in the tank but will still provide enough for flushing.
Never use the toilet to dispose of cleansing tissues, cigarette butts, or other trash.
Do not use hot water when cold will do.
Water and energy can be saved by washing hands with soap and cold water.
Do not let the water run when washing hands. Water should be turned off while washing and scrubbing and be turned on again to rinse.

In the Laundry Room

Use your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full.
Check water requirements of various models and brands when considering purchasing any new appliances.

General Home Maintenance

Check all waterline connections and faucets for leaks.
Learn to repair faucets so that drips can be corrected promptly.
Check for hidden water leakage such as a leak between the water meter and the house. To check, turn off all indoor and outdoor faucets and water-using appliances. The water meter should be read at 10 to 20-minute intervals.
Be sure the water heater thermostat is not set too high.

Outdoors

Use a moisture meter to determine when house plants need water. Water only when needed. Do not over-water. Soil can hold only so much moisture, and the rest simply runs off.
A timer will help, and either a kitchen timer or an alarm clock will do.
Apply only enough water to fill the plant’s root zone. Excess water beyond that is wasted.
Water lawns early in the morning during the hotter summer months.
To avoid excessive evaporation, use a sprinkler that produces large drops of water, rather than a fine mist. Sprinklers that send droplets out on a low angle also help control evaporation.
Set automatic sprinkler systems to provide thorough, but infrequent watering.
Pressure-regulating devices should be set to design specifications.
Use drip irrigation systems for bedded plants, trees, or shrubs, or turn soaker hoses upside-down so the holes are on the bottom.
Forget about watering the streets or walks or driveways.
Fertilize lawns at least twice a year for root stimulation, but do not over-fertilize.
Do not scalp lawns when mowing during hot weather. Taller grass holds moisture better. Grass should be cut fairly often, so that only 1/2 to 3/4 inch is trimmed off.
Use water-wise plants. Learn what types of grass, shrubbery, and plants do best in the area and in which parts of the lawn, and then plant accordingly.
Do not "sweep" walks and driveways with the hose.

Addressing Broader Water Resource Challenges

College Station's water situation is intertwined with broader challenges in Texas, including legal disputes over water rights and the exploration of innovative solutions like desalination and wastewater reclamation. The city of Bryan, College Station, Texas A&M University, and for-profit organizations including Upwell Water are parties to these conflicts. Upwell Water's plans to extract water from the Carrizo Wilcox aquifer has caused concern over sustainability and access for local communities. The Texas legislature is exploring innovative solutions such as desalination and wastewater reclamation initiatives. However, significant environmental challenges remain, particularly concerning the treatment of wastewater from fracking, which is known for requiring substantial energy in its processing.

Resources for Further Exploration

Explore and enjoy learning about:

Water resources
Water conservation
Water cycle
Water treatment
Water chemistry
Water stewardship
Watershed protection
Sportfish management, aquaculture, fish species and production, ponds, aeration, water quality, aquaponics and aquatic vegetation.
Identification, life history, distribution and conservation of threatened and endangered reptiles and amphibians of Texas.
Skills such as camping, wildlife watching, shooting and hunting skills, and fire building.

For those wanting to embark on water conservation projects:

TxWAC (Texas Water Action Collaborative): Facilitated by Texan by Nature, TxWAC matches funders to projects and accelerates investments in conservation projects that benefit water quality, volume, and resilience.
TPWD Land and Water Resources: This Texas Parks & Wildlife guide provides links to regional information on Texas land and water resources, as well as toolkits, grant/funding information, landowner assistance, and links to conservation programs.

Read also: Student Scholarship Opportunities

tags: #water #conservation #College #Station #Texas