2017 State Water Plan: Tracking, Reducing, and Meeting the State’s Water Use Goals

2017 Texas State Water Plan | NTMWD

In May 2016, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) adopted the 2017 State Water Plan. This comprehensive plan is designed to make the most of our existing water supplies, plan ahead for future growth, and preserve our natural resources. The first official plan was developed in 1961 on the heels of the devastating drought of record in the 1950s.

If you know anything about Texas water, you probably know that natural lakes are rare in our state. Most of the lakes that we have come to know and love are man-made reservoirs designed to capture and store surface water to control flooding and provide a stable water supply. The plan identifies rivers, streams, reservoirs and examines their ecological value and protection.

Through the TWDB, the state has set a goal of reducing the total statewide water demand to an average of 140 gallons per capita per day (gpcd). The TWDB hopes to achieve this by working with manufacturers of water-using equipment, utilities, consumers, and others to reduce overall statewide indoor water use to 50 gpcd, or average annual reductions of one percent per year. Education, research and funding programs will be the vessel for spreading this vital conservation message.

Why is it important that we make reductions and changes to how we use water to meet the 140 gpcd goal in the 2017 State Water Plan?

The 2017 State Water Plan identifies that conservation and reuse strategies will make up 45 percent of total future water volume over the next 50 years. By the year 2017, 30 percent of the total volume of these strategies will be in the form of demand management – a reduction in the need for new water supplies through conservation and drought management measures. As our population continues to grow, we must learn to use water more efficiently to stretch our existing supplies and reduce our overall need for more water.

How do I determine how much water I am using?

Read your latest utility bill and note how many gallons of water your household consumed. Divide the total gallons used by the number of days for that billing period. This provides you the number of gallons used per day. Then divide that number by the number of people that live in your home. This is your gpcd number.

  • Total gallons from bill ÷ number of days in billing cycle = gallon per day for the billing cycle
  • Gallon per day for the billing cycle ÷ number of people who reside in the home = gallons per person per day
  • Compare how close you are to the 140 gpcd state goal.
  • If you exceed the 140 gpcd goal, evaluate there you can reduce water use.

Resources:

Learn more water saving tips, visit www.northtexaswateriq.org

Learn how NTMWD is planning for the future.

Learn more about the Texas Water Development Board or the 2017 State Water Plan: