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Conversion to Surface Water Continues... The West Harris County Regional Water Authority and other regional water users have been granted an extra five years to plan and carry out the next phase of its conversion from groundwater to surface water – a change that gives planners and engineers additional time to get this mammoth project done right. At its meeting in January, the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District voted to delay the next conversion date from 2020 to 2025, and to reduce the percentage conversion from 70 percent to 60 percent of water usage. The Subsidence District also voted to delay the 2030 conversion to 2035, but to maintain the original goal of converting 80 percent of usage from groundwater sources to surface water by that date. For ratepayers, that means a more gradual – but still substantial – increase in rates to pay for the construction of new water lines and capacity throughout the West Harris County region. “This is going to allow us to take a more logical, reasonable approach to the design, bid and construction process,” said West Authority board President Bruce Parker. “We’re working with our rate analysts and financial advisors right now to reassess our future rate structure. We expect those rates to be lower than before…We’re hoping to stretch out the necessary rate increases to meet the new requirements.” The Subsidence District’s decision is “definitely a positive move,” agrees West Authority engineer Wayne Ahrens of Dannenbaum Engineering. “The Subsidence District decided it makes sense to allow time for this work to be done in an orderly fashion, rather than under rushed conditions. They balanced the goals of reducing subsidence with the practical side: How much can we reasonably expect people to get done in this period of time?” Recent studies indicate that a reduction in groundwater pumping through conversion to surface water sources has had a positive impact on subsidence in the Houston/Galveston and Fort Bend County area. Subsidence – the compacting of ground layers caused by excess groundwater pumping – can damage the aquifer and lead to increased flooding and foundation problems. Already, the Authority has surpassed its 2010 goal for converting 30 percent of water demand within the authority to surface water. The Authority has converted about 41 water districts with 52 water plants to surface water. An average of 35 percent of the Authority’s total demand is now being met with surface water, which is provided by a 28.25 MGD contract with the City of Houston. As part of what is now the 2025 deadline, the WHCRWA is currently working to acquire easements for a major new 96-inch “second source” cross-town pipeline that will bring surface water from Lake Houston to West

Bruce Parker, PresidentVoting District 2

Larry Weppler, V.P.Voting District 1

Stacey L. Burnett, Ass’t V.P.Voting District 4

“Cam” Postle, SecretaryVoting District 6

Eric Hansen, Asst. Sect’yVoting District 3

Karla Cannon, DirectorVoting District 5

Johnny Nelson, DirectorVoting District 9

Gary Struzick, DirectorVoting District 7

Mark G. Janneck, DirectorVoting District 8

Legal: James A. Boone,Allen Boone Humphries

Robinson LLP

Engineer: Wayne Ahrens,Dannenbaum Engineering

WHCRWA BOARD OF

DIRECTORS

Continued on page 2

March 2013

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Conversion...Continued from page 1Harris County. The Authority is partnering with the City of Houston and other water authorities in this massive project, which also involves expanding the City of Houston’s Northeast Water Treatment Plant and installing distribution lines to bring that water into the neighborhoods of west Harris County. In all, the Authority expects to acquire about 690 new easements and widen approximately 600 existing easements. “That is probably the most important thing we’re doing right now: working on acquisition of those easements,” says Ahrens. “It’s been a slow process, but it’s picking up steam. We’re doing a lot of surveying.” Ahrens said the initial push is to acquire easements in developing areas. “We want to get there and acquire the easement before the building starts,” he said. Further out, the Authority and its partners, through the Coastal Water Authority, are planning construction of the Luce Bayou Interbasin Transfer Project, which will bring water from the Trinity River to Lake Houston. The Texas Water Development Board recently agreed to participate in financing the project, a move which would help spread out the cost over a longer period. The Subsidence District’s recent decision to delay the 2020 goal to 2025 also addresses new water demand forecasts based on the 2010 Census. The census shows many communities in the Authority are growing faster than previously expected. Previous forecasts had pegged the 2020 population in the West Authority at 455,000. Based on the official 2010 Census, the Authority had already reached that level by 2010. The new 2020 population projection is 548,000, an increase of more than 20 percent. Water demand projections also are on the rise, which means the initial 30 percent goal continues to be a moving target. The Authority must increase its conversion goals to keep pace, says Ahrens. The Authority recently extended water lines to three water districts – Harris County Municipal Utility District 500, Harris County Municipal Utility District 433 and Harris County Municipal Utility District 418 – to serve the fast-growing master-planned communities of Town Lake, Cypress Lakes and Bridgeland. Those districts requested early conversion

to surface water to avoid building additional groundwater wells. They agreed to pay a portion of the early conversion cost – an arrangement that means savings for the Authority as well. The Authority also continues to build projects aimed at completing the water line “loop” for various districts, to ensure their service would continue even if pipeline repairs were to become necessary in the future. “We are going to continue to build some lines to connect additional districts, to be sure we can maintain the 30 percent conversion – even as the population grows,” Ahrens said. The Authority’s current groundwater reduction fee is $1.75 per 1,000 gallons and the surface water fee is $2.15 per 1,000 gallons. These fees typically are passed along by water utility districts in addition to their own consumer water rates. With future rate increases being unavoidable, homeowners and businesses and water utilities have an increased incentive to conserve precious water supplies, West Authority officials say. The Harris-Galveston Subsidence District also recently increased the “disincentive permit fee” levied to discourage over-reliance on groundwater, from $5 per 1,000 gallons of groundwater to $7 per 1,000 gallons. On the positive side, the West Authority is working to encourage the use of recycled water by golf courses, amenity lake owners and others. “Conservation is still a very important piece of the puzzle,” says Parker. “While we have been given a five-year reprieve on our water conversion goals, rates still will be going up each year and the cost of wasting water will go up as well. Conservation is always on our mind. Always!” “We encourage all residents within the Authority boundaries to examine their water usage habits and practice conservation!”

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Collecting rainwater for your garden is a smart idea; plants like rainwater, because it’s naturally soft, and free of chemicals. If the area is hit with another drought, collecting rainwater is a good way to deal with watering restrictions. You may also find that having a rain barrel is a handy alternative to the garden hose when it comes to watering container plants -- in hanging baskets or pots. It’s surprising how much water can be collected every time it rains. Just a half inch of rain falling on a 1,000-square-foot roof will yield 300 gallons of water! To get a quick idea how much water the roof of your own house might yield, here’s an example. For a modest-sized house, say 30 x 36 ft., with a typical 2 ft. roof overhang, a half inch of rain would yield about 408 gallons of water. That’s enough to fill six standard-size rain barrels.

Try it yourself! It used to be a lot more difficult to find good quality rain barrels, and that meant relying on internet ‘shops’ with pricey shipping costs. Today, however, just about every garden and home improvement store has a selection of the handy containers at reasonable prices. Here’s what you need to set up your own rain harvesting system: 1. Gutters and a Downspout. If you don’t already have rain gutters on your house, this one-time investment will likely be the biggest related cost. High quality gutters can be rather expensive, but even the least-expensive gutter system will suffice.2. Rain Barrel. Select a rainwater container. They are usually made of heavy duty plastic and they come in several colors (e.g., dark green, gray or terra cotta) and can hold various amounts of water. If you want to start small and keep it simple, consider a rain barrel with a water capacity of 40 to 80 gallons of water. If you have the space, several barrels can be set up in tandem. Prices vary, but most quality barrels are about $100-$150 each. 3. Debris Screen and Lid. A “downspout diverter” makes it easy to direct rainwater right into the storage tank. (Check local home improvement stores or the internet for these.) But before the water goes into the rain barrel, it is important to use some kind of debris screen to filter out leaves, pine needles and other debris. If the debris isn’t filtered out, it will accumulate at the bottom of the tank and may clog up the outflow. A removable wire mesh screen is all that is really needed, either mounted on top of the rain barrel or attached to the end of the downspout. A well-fitting lid is also important for safety (to keep pets and children out), and to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in the water. 4. Distribution Device. For a rain barrel, all that’s needed is a standard spigot or short length of hose installed near the bottom of the barrel, with an on/off valve. Then let gravity do the work. A longer hose can be attached to reach your garden, or just use the rain barrel’s spigot to fill watering cans. A downspout diverter, (see example, right), a popular British device that has been adapted to fit American drainspouts, comes in handy when it is difficult to place the rain barrel directly in front of one. If your primary motivation is to collect rainwater for your garden, you don’t need to worry about capturing every inch of rain that falls on your roof. But consider this: If you get about 10-inches of rain over the course of the spring and summer, an average, 1,360-square-foot roof would yield 8,160 gallons of rain water. You have to admit that whether you’re in a drought situation or not, it’s hard to pass up that much of a free thing!

Harvesting the RainRight from Your Roof

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For a lot of families, the kitchen just seems to be the favorite place to gather.. especially when tempt-ing aromas beckon and there are lots of tasty tidbits to sample. When the scrumptious meals are over, however, everything from breakfast scraps to the more bulky “feast” leftovers get scraped into the disposal in the kitchen sink. It is not quite so appetizing to think of all those shredded greasy food scraps sliding down the drain where, once they begin to accumulate in the pipes, they can cause some serious blockage. Some foods and cooking ingredients are potentially more troublesome than others. Dis-carded substances like cooking oil, bacon grease, mayonnaise, poultry skin, and pasta can stagnate in underground plumbing lines and get even messier when joined by dinner roll scraps, gravy and mashed potatoes. Then sometime later, when the meal is long forgotten, the sewer system becomes blocked sufficiently to cause a backup inside the house and the plumber is the only one who benefits from costly remedies and repairs. While most homeowners may not be aware that commercial establishments and restau-rants are required to install “grease traps” or interceptors and have them cleaned regularly, there are no such requirements for private homes. It is up to the homeowner to make sure that their pipes aren’t clogged up with discarded food. According to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), most sewer backups occur between the house and the main sewer lines. This means that it is the resident’s responsibility to cor-rect the problem. In even more complicated situations, grease blockages in the main lines can cause an unpleasant chain of events --sanitary sewer overflows lead to pollution of nearby lakes and streams which create potential health threats for people and wildlife. Disposal of cooking grease into storm drains has the potential to cause more havoc. The storm drains lead directly to streams and creeks, so discarded grease can also pollute the nearest water source. Re-member, any substance poured onto the ground can end up in groundwater. Take the time to dispose of greasy substances properly...recycle as much as possible and pour cooking oils, lards, and grease into closeable containers for disposal. Or consider mixing with dry kitty litter until the oil is absorbed and then place in a zipped-top bag for disposal.

Additional tips for the disposal of grease and leftovers from TCEQ... Place grease and used cooking oils in covered collection containers. Let them solidify on the counter or in the refrigerator before placing them in the garbage. Scrape food scraps into trash cans or garbage bags; minimize the use of the disposal. Non-meat and dairy food items may be placed in a compost pile. Remove oil or grease from dishes, pans and griddles by using a rubber spatula or paper towel to absorb it instead of rinsing it down the sink. Do NOT pour cooking oil and grease down the drain...ever. Overall, be careful what you scrape into the disposal. Once the walls of the pipes begin to clog up, all kinds of discarded scraps can make a bad problem a whole lot worse. Don’t run hot water over dishes, pans, fryers or griddles to wash oil and grease down the drain.

Be careful what you throw away...Greasy food scraps can come back to haunt you!

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Long Range Regional PlanningAims to Secure Water for Texas

TEXAS WATER FACTOIDS...• The population of Texas is expected to increase a whopping 82 percent between now and 2060; growing from 25.4 million to 46.3 million people. Those numbers, staggering though they are, tell only part of the story. And, as with a flowing stream, the narrative goes downhill from there. • Existing supplies – the amount of deliverable water that can be produced with current permits, current contracts, and existing infrastructure during drought are projected to decrease by about 10 percent – from roughly 17.0 million acre-feet today to about 15.3 million acre-feet in 2060 (an acre-foot equals 325,851.4 gallons, enough to supply about two families for a year). • In light of this anticipated decrease, if Texas does nothing to implement new water supply projects or management strategies, then homes, businesses, and agricultural enterprises across the state are projected to fall 8.3 million acre-feet short of needed supply by 2060! • Texas has 15 major river basins, 8 coastal basins, and 9 major and 21 minor groundwater aquifers, but water supplies vary significantly from year to year and from place to place. Because rainfall and stream flows in the state are unpredictable, communities have traditionally relied on reservoirs as part of water resource planning. • Reservoir storage per person in the state has declined from a peak of 2.4 acre-feet of conservation storage per person in 1980 to 1.7 acre-feet today. Our population has mushroomed and reservoir construction has declined since the 1980’s. Without new reservoirs, other water management strategies will fall short of meeting the state’s growing water needs. If no additional reservoirs are constructed during the next 50 years, the amount of reservoir storage will further decline…to less than 1 acre-foot per person in 2060…the lowest amount since immediately following the 1950’s drought of record!• The TWDB’s mission is to provide leadership, planning, financial assistance, information and education for the steadfast development and conservation of water for Texas.

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“The availability of water has always influenced patterns of settlement, and communities in Texas originally grew where water was plentiful. But as many of our communities have grown, they have outstripped their water supplies, making it necessary to more efficiently use local water resources, to work cooperatively with one another on regional solutions to water problems, and to move water around the state when necessary to meet the needs of all our communities” (From the Introduction, WATER FOR TEXAS 2012). Every five years, the Texas Water Development Board (“TWDB”) publishes a state water plan. The Water for Texas 2012 plan, adopted in December 2011, is designed to address the state’s demand for -- and the available supplies of – water over the next 50 years. The TWDB prepares its water plan by gathering data on population and water demands from sixteen regional water planning areas. After each region adopts its plan, it is sent to TWDB for approval. The TWDB then develops a statewide water plan based on information submitted by the sixteen regions, as well as other sources. Both the regional and state plans are just that – water projects must be developed and implemented by a local sponsor.

Region H Region H is the designated planning group for our portion of the Gulf Coast and related inland areas. It consists of all or part of 15 counties, and spans three river and four coastal basins in southeast Texas. Taking a “water is local” planning approach helps balance our area’s requirements with the Region’s available water supply. The information gathered by Region H planners – including local population projections, water requirement trends in agriculture and industry, the availability of both surface and underground water supplies, and water supply strategies -- is critical to both our area’s future, and to the state’s, as well. In our immediate area – Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery Counties – there are some tough realities to be faced. The 2011-12 economically destructive and record-setting drought provided a

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How often does your irrigation system come on when your grass doesn’t need any water? You keep reminding yourself to check the system con-troller, but it just never seems to get done. “It’s not hurting the grass,” you think, “so what’s the harm?”Besides the obvious answer that it’s wasting water and money, too much water actually does harm your lawn. Overwatering encourages turf to grow shallow roots which cause the grass to stress if water isn’t available. And, if your irrigation system is still on dur-ing winter months, add the fact that native grasses like St. Augustine are DORMANT during that time of year, and need no more water than Mother Nature provides. It might be true that everything is bigger in Texas…but that doesn’t have to include your water bill! Recent reports based on actual irrigation system evaluations in Montgomery, Harris and Ft. Bend counties has demonstrated that at least 90 percent of residents who have irrigation systems water too often...and 43 percent of that water runs off into the gutter and ultimately into the storm drain. There are a number of things that you can do to maximize the use of your irrigation system and avoid wasting water and your money. One thing you might consider is to adopt a “conservative” watering cycle...using your house number, water no more than twice a week on an odd/even schedule. You might choose Saturday and Wednesday for odd numbers and Sunday and Thursday for even numbers. But, skip a day if your grass doesn’t need watering – even if it is a “watering” day. Here are some of the most important things you can to do make the best, most water-efficient use of your irrigation system:1. Irrigation System Leaks You might have heard folks saying that the black gold of tomorrow may very well be blue…water. As the price of this precious commodity continues to go up, it is important that your irrigation system is not

needlessly “bubbling” water up from the ground, as oil did in the TV comedy, “Beverly Hillbillies”. Unlike Jed Clampett’s windfall of oil money, you’ll be the one paying for all that wasted water! What are some signs of an irrigation system leak? How about water running off your yard and into the street if a pipe is completely broken? Or maybe an area of your yard is staying wetter than any other spot, even if your controller is turned off? Perhaps your faucets have low pressure when your irrigation system is running? A typical residential 5/8” or 3/4” water meter will flow about 13 gallons of water per minute. Imagine a broken pipe leaking all day while you are away from home. After 8 hours, there could be 6,240 gallons of water wasted down the drain. Since your system may be running while you are asleep or away from home, the problems may have gone unobserved. And, unfortunately, when your system is underground it is difficult to find leaks until they appear. So, if you see these potential problem areas don’t delay in scheduling a professional audit/evaluation of your system, and then repair any pipe leaks or broken, leaky heads that are confirmed. 2. Timing is EVERYTHING! In addition to adopting a water-efficient watering schedule, set the system controller to complete the watering cycle before 4:00 am to avoid the peak demand of water for other household uses – like family showers, kitchen chores, and the use of laundry appliances. This early morning program also prevents excessive evaporation that occurs in strong sunlight, and is a great time for a technique called “Cycle and Soak”. This method applies water slowly so the soil actually can absorb it. Each lawn has different components – soil quality and content -- but the key here is to water only as long as it takes to get moisture down into the soil, and that could be as little as 10 minutes or as many as 20 depending on the soil. It will take at least 30 minutes for the water to percolate into the soil, so wait an hour to schedule the

IRRIGATION 101...Top 5 things to do if you have an irrigation system

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next cycle. Do a test run; turn on a zone to discover at what length of time water is no longer soaking into the soil, and begins to run off. Use that amount of time to set the first programmed “cycle”. Set the timer to come on again after an hour, to deliver a similar amount of water. Technically, while you may be watering more often, the system is delivering the same amount of water...only it is being utilized more efficiently!3. Hydrozone your Yard... When it comes to water, shrub areas need a different amount than the turf areas. Shrubs or turf exposed to afternoon sun need more water than those protected by the shade. Yet when it comes to watering their yard, most people water everything the same. We tend to put the same amount of water on the turf as we do on the flower beds. Separating different plant materials with different exposures so they may be watered independent of one another is called hydrozoning. Since January of 2009, the rules of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)require all new irrigation systems to be hydrozoned. Applying only the amount of water required by the plant material versus watering everything the same can save up to 21,300 gallons of water annually on a typical residential lot. 4. Overspray – WHAT A WASTE! T h e T C E Q r u l e s governing irrigation in Texas do not allow spraying water over impervious surfaces such as walls, fences, sidewalks, and streets. The reason for this rule is simple – it just wastes water. It may cost more to design and install a system that does not spray onto these surfaces, but in the long run, having an efficient irrigation system that conserves our most precious natural resource is worth it. Here’s an example: if your sprinkler system (set to apply one inch of water) throws water over the sidewalks during that cycle, it will waste around 220 gallons of water on your sidewalks. This water will run down the concrete and into the gutter, or it will run off into the soil where it will over-water the area and deep-percolate below the plant root zone where it is no longer useful. Either way, it is a waste of valuable water resources. Another important point to consider is that

watering your lawn is like running a marathon. You need to train the roots to grow or “run” deeper into the soil. If you water every day, the roots will stay near the surface where the water is. There is no reason for them to grow deeper or run longer. By skipping days between watering periods, the roots will begin to grow deeper to reach more water. Nutrients are important for the plants as well. Aerate the soil to provide oxygen, and add compost for nutrition. The deeper the roots grow, the longer your grass can go between waterings. Even during the dog days of the summer, your grass should be able to easily go three to four days without needing water. If the roots are deep enough, you can water as little as once a week. 5. The Effects of Pressure on Irrigation Systems Most of us experience the effects of pressure from time to time -- at home, on the job, even on the playing field. And just like people, irrigation systems do not perform well when the pressure is too high. Most spray systems operate best with 30 pounds of pressure per square inch (psi) at the nozzle. According to the Rain Bird Corporation, for every five pounds of pressure over the recommended operating pressure at the nozzle, your system will waste 6 percent to 8 percent of the irrigation water. It is very common for a spray system to operate between 40 psi and 50 psi at the nozzle. This excessive pressure results in a waste of 16 percent to 29 percent of the water delivered through the system. For a typical residential irrigation system, this waste will be equivalent to 28,990 gallons to 52,500 gallons of water annually. This can usually be remedied by adding some type of pressure regulation to your system. Consider having your irrigation system evaluated by a Licensed Irrigator to determine how you can conserve water wasted due to high pressure at the nozzle. Remember, when all is said and done… irrigation systems don’t waste water – people do. Pass Irrigation 101 with flying colors! Get acquainted with – and take control of – your irrigation system controller. Check the system regularly for leaks, broken heads, and tell-tale signs of overspray on sidewalks, fences, or the street. Here’s a case where ignorance is most definitely NOT bliss…what you don’t know about your irrigation system (how and when it works) can cost you money and waste valuable water resources.

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WATER PLANNING, Continued from page 5

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stark wake-up call, revealing our vulnerability to extended dry periods and delivering a sobering message: simply stated, looking ahead, we may not have adequate water resources to meet the needs of our residents. In compliance with regulatory agencies’ mandates to convert hundreds of water districts from reliance on groundwater to surface water, water authorities in our region are collaborating with the City of Houston to construct the Luce Bayou Project. The project will eventually bring some 400 million gallons per day from the Trinity River into the City of Houston’s Northeast Water Purification Plant at Lake Houston, where it will be treated and delivered across the region. Driving this project is the exceptional population growth experienced in our area. Even with aggressive water conservation measures, a number of the groundwater wells in the area have reached the end of their useful lives, aquifers are being depleted, and the area is already experiencing both water quality and water quantity issues. This makes the Luce Bayou Project a critical element of the State Water Plan for the multi-county region. The local water authorities do not have Ad Valorem taxing power; so construction projects are paid for by pumpage fees applied to wells within their boundaries, surface water sales and the revenue bonds supported by those sources. This makes the financing programs available through the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) so essential to help with engineering and environmental studies, right of way acquisition, and other preparation for construction. The TWDB has funded a substantial amount of the Luce Bayou Project costs, and the Luce Bayou “partners” intend to seek additional state funds to help pay for the project. If Luce Bayou is NOT completed on time, there will be ripple effects across the multi-county area, impacting economic growth and the future conversion to surface water.

Recommendations... The sixteen regional planning groups recom-mended 562 unique water supply projects to meet the State’s projected needs for additional water sup-plies. If implemented, these projects would result in an additional 9 million acre-feet per year by 2060 to meet the anticipated 8.3 million acre-feet shortfall. The capital cost to design, construct new projects, or implement the recommended water man-

agement strategies is estimated to be $53 billion. This includes conservation, drought management, new reservoirs, water reuse, and the introduction of new water treatment options like desalination plants. To ac-complish this, municipal water suppliers are expected to need nearly $27 billion in state financial assistance. It is anticipated that water supply issues will be assigned high priority during the 83rd Texas Legislative Session. Representative Allan Ritter (R-Nederland), Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, has filed two important bills. House Bills 4 and 11 call for a one-time transfer of $2 billion from the state’s “rainy day fund” (Economic Stabilization Fund) to capitalize a new, dedicated revolving fund to help pay for water-related infrastructure. On the Senate side, Sen. Troy Fraser, chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, has introduced Sen-ate Bill 22 that, among other provisions, also calls for the much needed $2 billion funding. This is significant in that passage of such legislation would enable the state to fund its long-range state water plan, and it also lays the groundwork for the fund’s management and operation. The launching pad for this program is a Texas Water Development Bond Amendment (Prop 2), which gained voter approval during the November 8, 2011 general election. This amendment allows the TWDB to authorize bonds on an ongoing basis so long as the dollar amount of bonds outstanding at any one time does not exceed $6 billion. These Prop 2 bonds are self-supporting (i.e., paid for through usage and impact fees). They do not depend on or utilize general revenues.

Making the tough decisions... Invariably, time and adequate rainfall have a way of dulling our senses to the obvious. However, Mother Nature, like all moms, is relentless in reminding us of the consequences of indolence. And she’s reminding us now. With just a handful of reservoirs in some stage of planning or development – with plenty of opposition lined up to delay or defeat their construction -- the state only has 188 major water supply reservoirs to rely on. More are needed. The state’s 1961 planning effort to meet water requirements in 1980 included some insightful advice: “If Texans cannot change the weather, they can at least, through sound, farsighted planning, conserve and develop water resources to supply their needs.” Sound advice indeed.

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# 1 — MONITOR RESIDENTIAL IRRIGATION According to the Texas Water Resources Institute, Texas A&M University, during summer months, lawn and landscape irrigation may account for 40 to 60 percent of residential water consumption. Homeowners frequently ask, “How much water is enough?” A typical response has been that an inch of water a week – from rainfall or irrigation — is sufficient. Experts now suggest, however, that even that amount is more than is actually needed to sustain Texas turf. Research reveals that many homeowners think it is necessary to run their sprinkler systems at least three times a week to maintain the desired lawn and landscaped areas. “Not so,” say Texas AgriLife Extension experts. Based on their research, It is more important to apply water so that it will soak into the soil... not run across the surface and into the gutter. Make sure your irrigation system is correctly designed, installed and maintained, so it can help minimize the amount of water you use and still keep your lawn and landscape looking healthy. Switch your irrigation controller settings to enable CYCLE AND SOAK — set the system to come on one time (around 2 am) and run for 7-8 minutes, and a second time (around 4 am) to run for another 7-8 minutes. (See page 6 for additional information)#2 – FIND AND FIX LEAKS Pay attention to your indoor water usage. Check routinely for leaks...leaking faucets, leaking toilets, leaking appliances, leaky outdoor faucets, and leaks in the irrigation system. Learn how to check your water meter to determine if you may have a leak. Watch your water bill...suspect a leak if you have any sudden increase in usage without any change in your usual patterns. Studies have shown that more than 10 percent of the water used in the home can be due to leaks...which is serious money down the drain. Fixing leaky faucets and plumbing joints can save 20 gallons a day for each one stopped. The single greatest water waster inside the home is a leaking TOILET...a leak of one gallon every six minutes – not an unusual amount – adds up to ten gallons an hour, or 240 gallons per day! A leaking toilet can double the total monthly water

usage by the whole household. Unfortunately, many toilet leaks are silent and happen without anyone noticing; sending lots of your dollars down the drain, as well! Most toilet leaks involve poorly seated tank balls, worn valves, or other minor components that are relatively easy to fix. ALSO IN THE BATHROOM...have you installed water saving or flow restricting shower heads? Replacing old ones can save 500 to 800 gallons of water a month. And, how long are your showers? Even a one or two minute reduction in time can save up to 700 gallons a month. Multiply that by the number of people in your household and now you’re talking some serious water savings! Something as simple as turning off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving can save another 3-4 gallons each time.#3 – REPLACE THIRSTY APPLIANCES Depending on how old your appliances are, you might realize a significant savings in the long run — in both water and energy usage — if you replace them. The washing machine, for example, is the second largest water user in your home, accounting for as much as 22 percent of the total residential water use. Today, there is a good variety of high-efficiency (HE) clothes washers on the market, many with the front loading drums that require only 27 gallons or less per load. Today’s more efficient dishwasher models use only about 7 gallons per load, or half the water earlier models did. Use them with full loads only; minimize pre-washing by scraping off food using a utensil not water; make sure dishes are positioned to get good water flow during the cycle; and select the shortest practical run cycle. Garbage disposals use a surprisingly large amount of water as they grind solid food waste into small particles that water washes down the drain. Consider composting your food scraps... this saves water twice. Watch for WaterSense. When you shop for plumbing fixtures, look for the EPA’s WaterSense label, which means they meet strict criteria for efficiency and performance. Since the program’s inception in 2006, WaterSense has helped consumers save a cumulative 287 billion gallons of water and over $4.7 billion in water and energy bills! Remember, the water we conserve today can serve us tomorrow!

THREE WATER EFFICIENCY TIPS THAT REALLY PAY OFF!

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Whether you are eight or eighty, there is some-thing about the cowboy mystique that has captivated folks for more than a century. In fact, one of the most important periods of Texas history includes a relatively brief, but exciting time of Longhorn cattle and the legendary men who captured them, and drove them to market. Following the American Civil War, many eastern families packed their belongings and moved to Texas in search of land and new homesteads. The railroad was moving west, as well. Coincidentally, a series of seemingly unrelated events were on a collision course that would leave a permanent “brand” on the State’s rich heritage. It is into this period in time -- the mid- to late-1800’s -- that we transport today’s students for an up-close look at cattle drives, barbed wire fences, windmills, cowboys and how they all came together to help win the west. The LEARNING FROM OUR PAST TO INFLUENCE OUR FUTURE program takes a unique approach to educating youngsters about today’s critical water issues, utilizing “Edu-tainment” (the marriage of education and entertainment) to help students understand the state’s continuing dependence on adequate water resources for expansion, growth and development. The program takes “Show and Tell” to a new level to teach 2nd, 4th and 7th grade students about how the history of Texas has always been tied to water. Because much of the arid regions of Texas could not have been populated without access to water, it follows that if students understand how critical water was to the lives of frontier families, they would appreciate how much we rely on water today. The goal is to help them avoid wasteful habits as youngsters, and to encourage them to make a life-long commitment to becoming stewards of this finite natural resource as adult water users with families

of their own. Learning from our Past was first fully utilized during the 2011-2012 school year, with new study units added in response to suggestions by participating educators. While many are puzzled by the ‘connection’ between Texas History and water conservation, this unlikely pairing has resonated with virtually everyone who has come into contact with the program. From the outset, the program has embraced the precept of an ancient Chinese Proverb: “Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand.” Educators say that Learning from our Past imparts an appreciation for something ‘larger than themselves’ to the students, helping them to realize their place in history. They become the ‘teacher’ as they take materials home and involve family members in using water more efficiently at home and for lawn and garden. There are several key components to the program. LIFE ON THE TEXAS FRONTIER is the second grade assembly that features educators costumed in prairie dresses who set up a comprehensive frontier living ‘museum’ containing an array of household artifacts (water pump, corn and coffee grinders, laundry and kitchen utensils, tools for building log cabins, and a variety of dioramas illustrating life in the 1800s). Following the presentation, the students take turns at the water pump, grinding corn into meal, and getting a close look at the tools used for building and everyday frontier activities. HOW WINDMILLS AND BARBED WIRE WON THE WEST is the 4th grade assembly program, offering all the excitement of cowboys and Indians and cattle drives. The mobile museum includes a downsized chuck wagon, outdoor cooking equipment and a campfire, cowboy gear (saddle, ropes, whips, saddle bags, branding irons),

Water Conservation Education With an Historical Twist

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an extensive display of Plains Indian artifacts, and a 5 ft. windmill and water well models. A new component goes back to the end of the ice age to help answer the questions, “Who was here first...and where did they come from?” This adds science and career topics to the program and is currently being expanded to include classroom videos and a hands-on archaeology-based classroom project. Early experiences with the program confirmed that holding workshops for the schools scheduling the assemblies made a significant difference to the success of the program. Comprehensive, hands-on sessions were scheduled for teachers to experience an assembly, review and obtain all the program’s support materials, and to reserve the program for their students during the school year.

During the 2011-2012 school year, the first full year of the program’s operation, venues expanded from one Independent School District to four. The numbers are impressive: just under 14,000 students (and their families) participated in what teachers report is an unforgettable way. The number of educator workshops increased correspondingly; involving over 50 social studies educators in the second round. Visiting with so many educators and their students produced an amazing “incubator” for ideas on expanding the program, many of which have been incorporated. A new “Cattle Drive Experience Board Game” was introduced this year. The Learning from our Past assembly program has utilized a comprehensive website since the program’s inception to communicate about the curriculum, program materials and concept. At the workshops, educators are given copies of all classroom materials, including the program’s Texas Legends Dime Novels – written as a method to communicate with students based on the popular mass media publications of the 1800’s. Schools and educators are never charged for the classroom materials or the assembly programs. This

is made possible by sponsorship funding provided by area water agencies, water industry consultants (law and engineering firms) and municipal utility districts. In addition to the West Harris County Regional Water Authority (WHCRWA), primary sponsors include: the North Harris County Regional Water Authority, North Fort Bend Water Authority, San Jacinto River Authority, Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District, and the Woodlands Joint Powers Agency. These sponsors renew their commitment each year, and new underwriters are added to sustain the program. Learning from our Past assemblies have been filmed and edited into videos for teachers to show in their classrooms. For more information about the program, visit www.whcrwa.com.

The co l l abora t ion among key educators and water industry representatives is proving to be insightful and beneficial. As one educator summarized: “I had honestly never considered the impact that water and access to water had (and has) on the development of Texas.”

A new 20-ft. MOBILE TEACHING LAB – provided by the WHCRWA – will make its debut in the 2013-14 School Year to travel to the schools and reinforce the curriculum materials. The theme is “LEARNING FROM OUR PAST, IMPACT ING THE P R E S E N T, A N D INFLUENCING OUR FUTURE”. The Lab is being developed in collaboration with a team of Katy ISD educators led by Carrie Lentz (Elementary Language Arts & Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator) and Jonathan Maxwell (Elementary Mathematics & Science Curriculum Coordinator).

COMING SOON!

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c/o Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLPPhoenix Tower

3200 Southwest Freeway, Suite 2600

Houston, Texas 77027

Take the 10 Gallon Water Conservation Challenge!Make a commitment to use water more efficiently!

Water plays an important role in our lives...in fact, no living thing can survive without it! We can all learn to use water wisely.

If each of us used just 10 gallons less each day, think of how much water we could save by the end of a week! or a month! or a year!

It is amazing how fast the savings will add up!

Take shorter showers = 4-5 gallons per minute

Tell an adult about a leaky faucet or “running” toilet = repair will save 5 to 200 gallons a day

Use a broom instead of a water hose to clean the driveway and sidewalks = 9 gallons per minute

Ask an adult to adjust the irrigation system controller to water a maximum of twice a week – can save up to 40 percent of the water used for this purpose. Turn system OFF during winter months – October – February

Only run the dishwasher with a full load = 12 gallons per load

Wait for a full load before running the washing machine = up to 43 gallons per load

Turn off the faucet while brushing teeth = 4 gallons per minute.

See how easy it will be to save 10 gallons a day!

Things to do...1. Encourage your school

to Proclaim a Water Conservation month.

2. Have a slogan contest and make posters to put up around the school.

3. Calculate how much water your class/school can save in a week, month, year.

4. Create a calendar from students’ water conservation drawings.

Source: www.SaveWaterTexas.com