Celebrate conservation and innovation during World Water Week 2017

As our populations continue to grow, clean drinking water will become a more precious commodity. Texas has a long history of innovation when it comes to water. In a state with only one natural lake, visionary leaders had to come up with ways to capture and store water to control floods and provide ample water supply year-round. World Water Week (Aug. 27-Sept. 3) reminds us of the spirit of our founders and the innovative solutions we have used to make sure that North Texas residents and businesses always have the water they need to thrive.

Conservation accounts for nearly a quarter of our water supply. As part of these efforts, NTMWD sponsors several key water conservation programs for the North Texas communities we serve.  Our North Texas WaterIQ program is the first in the state to provide Texans with easy water-saving tips, resources and information. The research behind this program shows that the more people know about where their water comes from, the more inclined they are to protect that water source.

Homeowners benefit from the WaterMyYard program, a partnership with Texas A&M AgriLife, which sends an automatic weekly alert with information about how much and how long to water your lawn each week based on current weather conditions.

And to make sure the younger generation has an appreciation for water, we also sponsor Water4Otter, a program tailored for grade-school students to teach them how to become “water spotters.” Presentations by Otis the Otter, Farah the Fox and Bob the Bobcat help children understand where their water comes from and draw the link between water stewardship and wildlife habitats.   

These are just a few ways we’re working to recycle and reuse so you, your cities and your children have clean water now and into the future.

But it’s not all about water conservation – water reuse and recycling is a growing trend that is becoming more and more vital to help make the best use of our water supply. Our most successful example is the East Fork Water Reuse Project, the largest man-made wetland in the nation for water supply. The nearly 2,000-acre wetland naturally filters water from the East Fork of the Trinity River while providing a unique habitat for wildlife and recreational discovery. It allows the District to reuse nearly 30 billion gallons of water annually. With the construction of the Main Stem Pump Station and Pipeline, we can make even better use of this valuable resource and help ensure that North Texas has clean, safe drinking water for years to come.