Texas Water: Sources, Scarcity, and Solutions

Texas is famously big, and its water sources are diverse – but our lakes, rivers, and underground aquifers are under growing stress. In this guide from a water resource professional’s perspective, we’ll explain where Texas water comes from, how drought and demand are squeezing supplies, and what you as a homeowner can do to help. We’ll cover region-specific situations (from the Hill Country to West Texas and the Rio Grande Valley), expert insights on trends and planning, and practical conservation steps (landscaping, plumbing, restrictions) that matter in Texas cities like Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and El Paso. By the end, you’ll have a clear, detailed view of the state’s water picture and your role in safeguarding it.

Where Texas Gets Its Water: Rivers, Reservoirs, and Aquifers

Texas’s water network includes 15 major river basins and 8 coastal basins, with 196 large lakes and over 180 reservoirs scattered across the state. These reservoirs – man-made lakes behind dams – capture river flows for drinking, irrigation, and industry. For example, Lake Travis on the Colorado River (above Austin) is one of the Highland Lakes and provides a big chunk of Austin’s water supply. Likewise, East Texas has huge lakes like Toledo Bend on the Sabine River. Figure: An aerial view of Lake Travis (a Colorado River reservoir near Austin) in Central Texas. Reservoirs like this one store runoff for municipal and agricultural use. (Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons.) Collectively, more than half of Texas’s available surface water comes from reservoirs. The rest flows through rivers and streams – Texas has about 191,000 miles of streams – or is stored in natural springs and lakes.

But Texas does not have many natural lakes: most large lakes are created by dams. Early in the 20th century, Texans built reservoirs for flood control, but today they fill most of our surface-water needs. Rivers still matter too: the Rio Grande, Colorado, Brazos, Trinity, Red, Sabine/Neches and others all supply cities and farms downstream. In West and South Texas, the Rio Grande is a crucial river, feeding reservoirs like Amistad and Falcon along the US–Mexico border. Water managers plan supply from entire basins: for instance, San Antonio and Austin depend on the Colorado River system (highland lakes) and on springs fed by the Edwards Aquifer below the Hill Country. Houston sits near the Gulf Coast and relies mostly on rivers (the Trinity and nearby Galveston Bay system) and groundwater from the Gulf Coast aquifer. East Texas (Piney Woods) has more abundant rainfall and rivers like the Sabine/Neches and Trinity east of Dallas.

Beneath our feet, Texas has nine major aquifers (and dozens of smaller ones) that store groundwater. Collectively these aquifers supply about 55% of all water used in Texas (2019 data). Some important ones: the Ogallala Aquifer underlies much of the Panhandle and High Plains (vital for West Texas irrigation), and it is the largest single aquifer in the U.S.. The Edwards Aquifer – a karst limestone aquifer in the Hill Country – provides nearly all of San Antonio’s drinking water and much of the Hill Country’s supply. Closer to the coast, the Gulf Coast Aquifer under Houston and Corpus Christi supplies many wells. The Trinity Aquifer underlies North Central Texas (supplying parts of the Dallas/Fort Worth area), and smaller aquifers like the Carrizo–Wilcox (East Texas) and Hueco–Mesilla (El Paso area) also serve local communities. Groundwater is a “lifeline” in regions with little rainfall.

Water sources vary dramatically by region and even by city. As water expert Carlos Rubinstein (former Texas water board chairman) reminds us, “People don’t all live next to rivers, and the aquifer isn’t a bathtub with the same amount of water everywhere. Rocks and sand get in the way.”. For example, Lubbock (in the Texas Panhandle) gets its water from two well fields (Ogallala) plus two local reservoirs (Lake Meredith and Lake Alan Henry). In contrast, the Dallas–Fort Worth metro area relies mostly on surface water – dozens of lakes and rivers (the Trinity River and Brazos River) – for its municipal supply. Even neighbors can differ: parts of Austin tap the Colorado River lakes, while nearby Bastrop/Waco depend on groundwater wells and smaller streams. The one thing every Texan has in common is that our water is carefully managed – it must be protected and stretched, because it won’t always be abundant.

A Growing Thirst: Demand and Supply in Texas

Texas is booming, and its thirst is growing. In 2020 the state had about 29.7 million residents; by 2070 we’ll see roughly 51.5 million Texans – a 73% increase. That added population needs more water for everything: homes, factories, and farms. The 2022 State Water Plan projects that annual water demands will climb from about 17.7 million acre-feet (MAF) in 2020 to 19.2 MAF by 2070 (an acre-foot is ~326,000 gallons, roughly the amount 2-3 homes use in a year). This forecast assumes that many water users will conserve enough to limit demand growth to just ~9% despite a 73% population jump. Those savings come from efficiency, recycling, and new strategies.

Despite that modest demand rise, Texas’s reliable water supply is actually shrinking. Right now the state has about 16.8 MAF/year of dependable water during a severe drought (called “drought-of-record”). By 2070 existing supplies are projected to drop to about 13.8 MAF (an 18% decline). Why the drop? Mainly because we’re draining our aquifers faster than they recharge. For instance, the Ogallala (High Plains) and Edwards aquifers are being pumped hard, lowering water tables. The 2022 State Water Plan says aquifer depletion accounts for most of the long-term loss. Meanwhile, sedimentation slowly shrinks reservoir capacity. Climate change adds a kicker: over time, less rain may runoff into rivers and reservoirs (more on that later).

In concrete terms, cities and regions already face shortages. The Texas Water Development Board estimates that under drought-of-record conditions in 2020, water user groups collectively had a 3.1 MAF shortfall (i.e. unmet need). That gap grows to 6.9 MAF by 2070 without new projects – enough water for over 5 million typical households each year. Put differently, studies show roughly a quarter of Texas residents could face municipal water shortages by 2070 if no additional supplies are developed. Meeting even those baseline needs will require huge investments: planners identified about 5,800 water projects statewide – from new reservoirs and pipelines to desalination and reuse plants – at a combined cost of roughly $80 billion (2018 dollars). Conservation efforts account for roughly 2.2 MAF of additional yield by 2070 (about 29% of all planned new water). In practice, that means Texans are being asked to do more with less – keep using about the same total water even as our population surges.

Who uses the most water? Irrigation of crops and livestock is the single largest user – around 54% of all water use in Texas. (Much of that irrigation is in the High Plains and Lower Rio Grande Valley.) Municipal use (cities and homes) is smaller by volume, but growing fast. Industry, energy (thermoelectric power plants), and livestock account for the rest. From a homeowner’s perspective, it’s a reminder that conservation matters both at home and on farms: every drop saved for lawns and dishwashers means more is left for other needs.

Texas officials have been sounding the alarm: rapid growth, hotter climate, and aging pipelines all threaten our supply. For example, the Texas Water Development Board warns “Texas does not have enough water to meet demand if the state is stricken with a historic drought”. This has spurred lawmakers to action: in 2025, they struck a $20 billion water infrastructure deal to fund projects across the state. Still, much of the responsibility falls on us: planners note that “conservation is the least costly strategy,” yet it’s only one part of the solution.

Heat, Drought, and Climate Change: Crunching the Numbers

Long-term trends are stacking the deck against water supply in Texas. Our climate is getting hotter and drier, which means more severe and frequent droughts. Consider recent extremes: Texas baked through its hottest summer on record in 2022, resulting in the worst drought in a decade. Across the state, lake and reservoir levels plummeted. By October 2022, total storage in all of Texas’s major reservoirs was just 67% of capacity, down from 80% the year before. On the Rio Grande, drought drove reservoirs like Falcon Lake to just 9% of capacity – a historic low. The NASA Earth Observatory even captured the crisis from space: in August 2024, satellite images showed Amistad Reservoir (on the Texas–Mexico border) at record-low levels (under 25% full) due to the severe drought. Figure: Amistad Reservoir on the Rio Grande (Texas–Mexico border) from NASA satellite imagery (Aug. 2024), shown here at a historic low water level amid severe drought. Drier conditions have exposed broad mudflats on the lakebed. (NASA/EO Images.) These are not one-time anomalies – they illustrate a pattern.

Scientists attribute this pattern largely to climate change and warming trends. In recent years, hotter weather has dried soils and vegetation more quickly, so that even normal rainfall yields less runoff into rivers. Higher temperatures also increase evaporation from lakes and reservoirs – so after each rain it’s as if Texas’s dams “leak” water back into the air faster than they used to. As the Texas Tribune reports, “Climate change has brought higher temperatures that dry soil more quickly, enhancing the effects of drought…longer-lasting and more intense heat brought by climate change accelerates water evaporation from Texas’ reservoirs.”. In short, we have less water hanging around to refill our lakes and recharge our aquifers.

The practical effect: surface water becomes less reliable. Surface supplies (lakes and rivers) account for roughly half of Texas’s water supply today. But as climate impacts grow, those supplies are wobblier. Scientists predict that flows in Texas rivers will decline in coming decades under climate change. Already, weather attribution studies show that the extreme heat waves and dry periods of recent years were made much more likely by human-driven warming. In plain terms: Texas’s big reservoirs (like Travis, Buchanan, O.H. Ivie, Conroe, and dozens more) will increasingly feel the effects of hotter, drier summers. This matters for cities – as reservoirs fall, municipalities issue mandatory water restrictions. Indeed, the 2022 drought prompted hundreds of Texas communities to impose restrictions on outdoor watering and other uses.

Meanwhile, the historic 2011 drought (the previous worst on record) also demonstrated vulnerability: many rivers shrank, fish and farmer-well troubles arose, and reservoirs sank to multi-year lows. Texas learned that even a short-term “mega-drought” can strain supplies. The consensus among water managers is clear: we can’t count on the 20th-century average climate. Texas is warming faster than the U.S. average, which means the 1970–2000 water habits won’t reliably serve us.

In light of this, Texas water planning now explicitly factors in hotter, drier futures. Planners use the “drought-of-record” (from the worst historical drought) plus climate projections to stress-test supplies. Yet, as one Tribune expert noted, political realities have slowed how explicitly climate is accounted for. Still, on-the-ground impacts speak loudly: fewer rain-fed fills of our lakes and declining aquifer recharge will push the state to rely more on alternatives (conservation, reuse, desalination).

Regional Spotlights: How Water Supply Varies Across Texas

Because of its size and geography, Texas’s water picture varies greatly by region. Central Texas (Hill Country, Austin, San Antonio): This area gets a mix of groundwater and surface water. Austin and San Antonio both tap the Colorado River (via the Highland Lakes) for a big share of their supply. Austin’s drinking water comes from lakes Travis and Buchanan (upstream) plus some water drawn from the Edwards Aquifer via the nearby San Marcos Springs. San Antonio is famous for relying on the Edwards Aquifer – nearly 90% of its water comes from this underground limestone spring system. The Edwards underlies the Hill Country springs (San Marcos, Comal) that keep San Antonio’s taps running; during drought, SA often draws heavily from that aquifer. However, population growth has pushed SA Water System to diversify (reclaiming wastewater, converting brackish groundwater, etc.) so that by 2070 SA could supplement Edwards with as much as a quarter of its supply from reuse and other sources. (Statewide, experts project reclaimed water will rise from <3% now to around 10% of supply by 2060.) For homeowners in these areas, water restrictions often kick in when Edwards levels drop or lake levels fall; for example, San Marcos implemented stage-4 restrictions in 2022 when downstream reservoirs fell low.

North and East Texas (Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, etc.): This populous region leans more on surface supplies. Dallas–Fort Worth gets nearly all its water from lakes and rivers – dozens of reservoirs (such as Lewisville, Grapevine, Ray Hubbard, Benbrook, etc.) fed by the Trinity and Brazos Rivers. Those lakes dropped 20–30 feet in 2011 and again in 2022. Similarly, Houston (and the Galveston-Houston metro) is supplied by a combination of riverine reservoirs (Lake Houston, Lake Livingston on the Trinity, Lake Conroe on the San Jacinto, etc.) and some local groundwater from the Gulf Coast aquifer. Houston has faced very wet winters but hot summers, leading it to invest in expanded reservoirs (Lake Conroe) and aggressive reuse. East Texas (Lufkin, Tyler) tends to have plenty of rainfall and uses smaller river basins (Neches, Sabine) and the Carrizo–Wilcox aquifer; droughts hit it less severely than the west.

West Texas & the Panhandle (Lubbock, Midland–Odessa, El Paso out west): This vast region is mostly arid or semi-arid. The Ogallala Aquifer (High Plains Aquifer) is the underground giant here – it feeds wells for towns and massive irrigation projects. For example, Lubbock’s water comes from the Ogallala (wells) plus two small reservoirs. Midland–Odessa use a deep Pecos Valley aquifer plus some pipelines. Lakes in this region (e.g. Lake Meredith north of Amarillo, E.V. Spence near Ozona) have silted up or dried out; they capture too little rainfall to fill. Importantly, the Ogallala’s water table has been dropping for decades under farming, and recharge is slow (semi-arid climate). Water managers in West Texas face tough choices: build pipelines (expensive) or impose strict limits on irrigation. Many farm districts have already allocated (and even bought) “banked” water from pipelines (like the proposed Mesa pipeline from Houston area) to prepare. Homeowners here often face mandatory allotments for outdoor watering; some rural areas also impose “use it or lose it” pump rules that discourage water-saving – an issue the state legislature has partly addressed by phasing in pumping fees.

El Paso and Far West (Big Bend, Trans-Pecos): This desert border region has only one river of note: the Rio Grande (the Elephant Butte/Amistad/ Falcon series of reservoirs). El Paso’s municipal supply is about half surface water from the Rio Grande (subject to international treaties and acute drought stress) and half groundwater from the Hueco Bolson aquifer beneath the city. That aquifer is also dropping due to heavy pumping and minimal recharge. El Paso has responded by aggressive conservation (including compulsory xeriscaping in new yards) and by the largest urban desalination plant in the U.S. (treating brackish wells). In 2011 and 2022, far-west wells and Rio flows were extremely low, and El Paso issued strict Stage 3 restrictions – reminding residents that Western Texas has no slack in supply.

In short, where you live in Texas determines how water comes to your home. North/Central Texas homes usually drink river water, Hill Country homes tap karst springs and lakes, and the High Plains and Far West drink from wells. Despite these differences, the big picture is the same statewide: growth and climate stress threaten all sources. As Rubinstein said, geology and distance “get in the way” – so everyone must take responsibility for careful use.

What Texas Water Data Show: Expert Insights and Projections

The picture above comes from detailed state water plans and studies. Key numbers underscore the challenge: by 2070, Texas will have 70% more people but 18% less reliable water. In plain terms, nearly one-quarter of Texans could face shortages if nothing changes. The Texas Comptroller’s 2023 report reiterates that demand will outpace supply in parts of the state by mid-century. This supply gap has three main drivers:

• Population growth and urbanization. New housing and industry mean more taps, toilets, and lawns to fill. Even if per-person usage stabilizes, a rapidly rising population still increases total demand. (Good news: aggressive efficiency can blunt this, which is why planners project only a 9% demand rise by 2070 instead of 73% with “business as usual.”).

• Agriculture and energy use. Texas’s farms and ranches use the most water of any sector (over 50%). The energy sector (especially thermoelectric power plants) and mining also use large amounts. As Texas economy grows, these uses add pressure. Some experts warn that without changes in irrigation practices (e.g. drip irrigation, improved scheduling) and energy cooling, demands could spike. Homeowners contribute about 10–20% of total use (indoor + landscape), but every bit of water saved at home helps free up bigger sources.

• Infrastructure and natural losses. Sedimentation slowly fills reservoirs (reducing capacity), and groundwater pumping can permanently lower aquifer levels. Meanwhile, climate change acts as a multiplier – hotter temperatures increase losses through evaporation and reduce rain-to-runoff conversion. Texas’s 2011 drought (with 100+ consecutive 100°F days in places) taught us that when water is scarce, pipelines and policies can’t magically create more. Bottlenecks like aging dams, leaky canals, and legal constraints (“use it or lose it” water rights) also can impede efficient allocation.

Experts urge preparation. Robert Mace (Texas State University’s Meadows Center) and others emphasize that we must plan for worse droughts and hotter climates. For example, new climate studies predict the Panhandle and Trans-Pecos will see less rainfall and higher evaporation by 2050. Water planners are now using these models: instead of relying on average historical data, they simulate more intense conditions when sizing reservoirs and pipelines. Several recent Tribune stories note that the state’s official plan still bases its numbers on past drought severity, and some critics say planners should assume hotter/ drier trends to be safe.

As of 2025, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) – which manages statewide water supply data – continues to monitor reservoir levels daily (see waterdatafortexas.org for real-time info) and update models. It has also been urging more water reuse. A 2012 TWDB analysis (cited by Tribune) foresaw reclaimed wastewater providing up to 10% of statewide demand by 2060. San Antonio, for example, already has the “nation’s largest recycled water system” and aims to dramatically increase reuse in the coming decades. If your city has a reuse or desalination project planned (many do), that’s part of the big picture. In legislature and agencies, the message is clear: Texas must both manage demand and develop new supplies.

Homeowner Action: Conservation and Efficiency That Makes a Difference

If the above sounds daunting, remember: every homeowner can help significantly. Texas’s water supply isn’t infinite, but conservation can stretch it a lot. Below are proven strategies you and your neighbors can use right now. Many of these have a good return on investment (lower bills, rebates, increased home value).

• Smart Landscape Choices: Xeriscaping – landscaping with drought-tolerant native plants – is key in Texas. Native grasses (buffalograss, blue grama), groundcovers (lantana, sedges) and shrubs (Texas sage, red yucca, mahonia) require far less watering than exotic turf. Apply deep mulch around plants to reduce evaporation. Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses instead of sprinklers to water beds efficiently. Install a smart irrigation controller or rain sensor to avoid watering on rainy days. (Bonus: a few rain barrels or a cistern can capture roof runoff for garden use.) Many cities offer rebates for lawn-to-native-plant conversions or for installing rain barrels (for example, Austin rebates up to $3,000 to replace turf with native garden beds). Check your local utility – they often have free landscape conversion guides or coupons for native trees.

• Mindful Watering Habits: Follow your city’s watering restrictions. Most Texas cities limit sprinkler or hose watering to certain days and times (commonly two nights per week after sunset, or none in mid-day) to prevent waste. Even when not restricted, watering lawns only in early morning or late evening minimizes evaporation loss. Deep, infrequent watering is better than daily sprinkle-timing; it encourages deeper roots. If your neighborhood has a permit for one street-side irrigation day, get involved in choosing the schedule (some cities even let neighborhoods vote on preferred days).

• Indoor Efficiency – Fix Leaks: The EPA’s “Fix a Leak” campaign has a striking fact: 10% of homes have leaks wasting 90+ gallons daily. A single dripping toilet or faucet can waste thousands of gallons a year. Those same EPA facts note that the average household leaks over 10,000 gallons per year. The solution is low-cost: check toilets and faucets for drips and replace worn flappers; install new washers or fixtures if needed. Fixing leaks can save about 10% of your indoor water use. The savings also show up in smaller water bills – so it pays for itself.

• Indoor Efficiency – Appliances and Fixtures: When it’s time to upgrade, choose WaterSense-certified or ENERGY STAR water-efficient appliances. High-efficiency toilets (using 1.28 gal per flush or less) save hundreds of gallons per person per year compared to old 3.5+ gal toilets. Low-flow showerheads (under 2.0 gal/min) and faucet aerators also cut usage with minimal comfort loss. Only run dishwashers and clothes washers when full – or buy an ENERGY STAR model that adapts water use to load size. Most major Texas cities (Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, etc.) have rebate programs or free giveaways for high-efficient toilets and showerheads – check your city’s water department website.

• Greywater and Rainwater Reuse: Texas law encourages reusing non-potable water. Graywater (lightly-used water from showers, sinks, laundry) and harvested rainwater can legally be used for irrigation, toilet flushing, or other non-drinking purposes. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality specifies that at home, greywater can be used “for gardening, landscaping, composting, and toilet flushing” without a permit. In practice, this means you could route shower runoff to a garden (using approved diverter valves) or fill a rain barrel from your gutter. Collecting rain in barrels (typically allowed up to 100 gallons per system in most TX jurisdictions) can supply garden water without using city supply. Do note: graywater systems should be designed to avoid any cross-contamination (see TCEQ homeowner guidelines). Even a simple DIY clothes-washer-to-garden system can save thousands of gallons annually.

• Behavior Changes: Finally, everyday habits add up. Shorten showers by just 1–2 minutes, turn off the tap while brushing teeth, and only water plants as needed (avoid waste). Teach kids about water-saving (get a shower timer, for example). Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways or sidewalks. When washing cars at home, plug the drain or use a spray nozzle with shut-off. Every small conservation at home means more water left for everyone else.

• Stay Informed & Involved: Pay attention to your utility’s water reports and drought alerts. Sign up for city water conservation newsletters. Participate in community meetings about water. Knowing your local water source (river, reservoir, aquifer) helps you understand which threats matter (e.g., if you’re on the Edwards Aquifer, that springflow drought matters to you). Many areas now have online tools or apps (such as the Texas Tribune’s Water Odyssey tool) to see supply/demand projections for your address. Getting engaged can also mean asking your homeowners association not to ban rain barrels or xeriscaping (Texas law prohibits HOAs from banning rainwater harvesting).

In short, homeowners have enormous power to reduce demand. Conservation is often called the “fifth basin” of water planning in Texas (after the Red, Trinity, Brazos, Colorado basins) because saving water stretches existing resources. If every Texan cuts back a little, it multiplies to millions of acre-feet saved state­wide.

Local Planning, Policies, and Infrastructure

Water resource professionals (including those at the TWDB and local districts) don’t expect individuals to solve the crisis alone – big projects and policies are also in play. Under Texas law, regional water planning groups (16 regions covering the state) assess local needs and recommend projects every five years. These plans feed into the State Water Plan. Key projects under consideration include new reservoirs (e.g. Marvin Nichols in East Texas), large pipelines, desalination of brackish groundwater, stormwater capture facilities, expanded water reuse plants, and enhanced aquifer recharge programs.

Current initiatives: In 2023–2025, for example, legislators approved $20 billion in new funding for water supply projects statewide. This includes money for expanding the Gulf Coast Water Authority pipeline, expanding reuse in San Antonio and El Paso, extending a pipeline from East Texas to Dallas, and restoring depleted aquifers. Many cities have updated drought contingency plans (with staged restrictions). Some areas (like San Antonio and the Lower Colorado River Authority) are revising their rules to incentivize urban conservation and penalize wasteful use. The 2022 State Water Plan itself lists nearly 5,800 strategies (from simple conservation to desal plants) to deliver an extra 7.7 MAF per year by 2070. (Note: conservation strategies alone account for ~2.2 MAF of that, or ~29% of planned new supply.)

On a local level, utilities are modernizing infrastructure to reduce losses. For instance, many cities are repairing leaky mains (15–25% of treated water can be lost in old pipes). Water providers also offer free home water audits or rebates for smart irrigation controllers. Water restrictions are a direct policy tool: in a Stage 2 drought, for example, Austin prohibits outdoor watering between 10am–6pm year-round; San Antonio does a two-days-per-week schedule when needed. These vary by city, but the 2022 drought saw hundreds of jurisdictions impose mandatory restrictions. Homeowners should know their city’s rules (often posted on the utility’s website) and follow them – it’s not just a suggestion, it’s often the law during droughts.

Looking forward: Water planners assume some projects will get built, but funding and political consensus can lag. That’s why emphasis on conservation and efficiency is so strong: as one expert put it, “reclaimed water is a way to stretch our existing supplies and potentially avoid expensive infrastructure projects”. Texas cities are indeed increasing reuse – San Antonio, for example, now recycles about 15% of its water (mostly for irrigation) and aims to raise that to 40% by 2040 (via new treatment and recycled supply credits). El Paso already recycles wastewater for industrial uses. Even agriculture is exploring more efficient irrigation technologies to ease the load. In legislative halls, bills often center on encouraging rainwater harvesting, graywater use, and stormwater retention in development codes.

Municipal plans also emphasize water quality – keeping sources clean is as important as having enough water. For homeowners, this means using fertilizer and pesticides sparingly and fixing septic systems so our creeks and aquifers don’t get polluted (contamination effectively “loses” water supply).

All these policies and projects create a framework. But crucially, success depends on people. As one water planning report noted, “Because municipal conservation is projected to provide about 30% of future water needs, all Texans must do their part”. Yes – your actions make up a big piece of the plan. The more each homeowner conserves, the less costly the new projects need to be. In your community, that might mean buying into a localized program (like a neighborhood rainwater collection co-op, or a drip-irrigation workshop at the extension office). It also means supporting wise water policy – when infrastructure bonds come up for vote, or when local officials discuss watering rules, speak up for conservation and smart use.

Tips for Texas Homeowners: Practical Conservation

To sum up practical steps:

• Fix leaks immediately. A single running toilet can waste hundreds of gallons per day; a dripping faucet can waste tens of gallons. Check all fixtures monthly. (EPA WaterSense notes that fixing leaks can save a family about 10% on their water bill.)

• Upgrade to WaterSense fixtures. Replace old toilets (especially pre-1994 models) with modern 1.28-gallon-per-flush units; replace showerheads and faucets with low-flow versions. This can cut indoor use by tens of percent.

• Efficient appliances. Only run dishwashers and laundry machines with full loads. If buying new, choose ENERGY STAR or WaterSense washers (they adjust water use to load size).

• Collect rainwater. Use rain barrels or cisterns to capture roof runoff for your yard. Check local rules (TX generally allows this with few restrictions).

• Reuse “gray” water. Reroute your washing machine or shower drain to irrigation (using kits or professional systems) for landscape use. Use water from rinsing vegetables or boiling pasta to water non-edible plants. Remember: do not use bathroom sinks or toilets for graywater – only showers, tubs, and laundry (and even then, the water should not go back into the drinking supply). Texas law explicitly allows such reuse for gardening and flushing.

• Landscape thoughtfully. Choose native, low-water plants. Use mulch and compost to hold moisture. Group plants by water need. Turn off irrigation systems when it rains (or get a rain sensor). Avoid over-fertilizing lawns – healthy soil with mulch needs less frequent watering.

• Water deeply, less often. When you do water your lawn or garden, water in the early morning (before 10am) or evening (after 6pm) to reduce evaporation. Water only when the soil is dry below the surface – a simple screwdriver test can check moisture. If it’s winter or early spring, delay watering until plants actually need it.

• Residential rebates and programs. Check if your city or water provider offers rebates for water-saving measures (many do). For example, Austin Water offers rebates for rainwater harvesting systems and irrigation upgrades; San Antonio Water System offers irrigation efficiency rebates. Some utilities even offer free water audit kits to find leaks.

• Follow the rules. During drought stages, absolutely follow any watering restrictions. They’re in place to protect the system. For instance, San Antonio Stage 2 means no watering at all – not even on permitted days. Ignoring restrictions can lead to fines or water waste.

• Community awareness. Encourage neighbors to conserve. Sometimes saving 5–10 gallons per person per day per household across a city translates into millions of gallons saved community-wide. Sign up for alerts (text/email) from your city’s water department to know when drought stages change.

By adopting even a few of these, Texas homeowners collectively support the state’s water supply. Utilities report that aggressive conservation campaigns (like during 2011 and 2022 droughts) can cut daily per-capita use by 15–30%. In a state where agriculture uses over half the water, urban savings might seem small – but think: if every household cuts 1,000 gallons per week, multiplied by millions of homes, that’s billions of gallons.

Conclusion: Being Part of the Solution

Texas’s water story is one of challenge and adaptation. We draw from rivers, lakes and deep underground, but our footprint is large. Growth, heat, and politics make the picture complicated. Still, there are reasons to be hopeful. Water management in Texas is highly organized – planners are crunching the numbers, and billions of dollars are being invested. You have a role: as a homeowner, your actions can greatly mitigate the problem.

Understand where your water comes from (local suppliers often publish their sources and system plans) and know your city’s water policies. Stay informed: follow news about the State Water Plan, drought outlooks, and conservation tips. Support infrastructure improvements (like improved drainage, flood capture, or aquifer recharge) when you can. Simple steps at home are critical too: fix leaks, choose efficient appliances, water wisely, and reuse when possible. These not only shrink your water bill, but add up to real community benefits.

Texas is a drought-prone state, and climate change means that future dry spells may be harsher. But Texans are also resourceful. By combining smart planning and everyday conservation, we can stretch our existing supplies and buy time for new solutions. The tap water in your home may come from far-away springs, lakes, or wells – but keeping it flowing is a shared responsibility. Every drip fixed, every lawn watered less, every rain barrel filled helps secure our water future.