By Ruthie Redmond, Water Resources Program Manager
This year’s annual Gulf Coast Water Conservation Symposium in Houston was a success. Over 140 people registered for the one-day event, which highlighted water conservation strategies utilized throughout the country. If you weren’t able to make it, no worries - the presentation slides are available on the Texas Livings Waters website.
The theme this year was Water Conservation’s Potential and Promise, and the topics covered included:
Using traditional and social media to deliver water conservation messaging to customers, stakeholders, and journalists;
Potential water savings around the state from year-round outdoor watering limitations;
The economic benefits of water efficiency;
Using innovative financing tools to rebuild the Gulf Coast;
How water conservation limits rate increases;
The Gulf Coast’s weather future,
Incentivizing water conservation through local creative programming.
The Symposium also highlighted two new reports that focus on the impacts of conserving water in Texas:
Impact of Water Efficiency Program Expenditure on the Texas Economy
Texas investments in water efficiency — whether on old, water-wasting toilets, landscape irrigation, commercial kitchens, industrial process, or reducing water losses — create jobs for Texans. As this report shows, every dollar invested by the state on water efficiency yields $1.30 to state output and $0.80 to gross state product, a solid return.
Water Conservation by the Yard: A Statewide Analysis of Outdoor Water Savings Potential
Landscape irrigation is estimated to be the single, largest component of municipal water use. That’s a lot of water to be saved, especially in drought-prone Texas. This report demonstrates how limiting outdoor watering can contribute to meeting statewide municipal water needs.
Hope to see y'all next year!