Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples today announced the start of a new campaign to encourage water conservation. The Texas Water Smart campaign is a public-private coalition with the backing of the Texas Department of Agriculture.

“We have a choice to make: conserve water now or risk more job losses in the future," Commissioner Staples said. “Our recent historical drought and booming population point to an unavoidable conclusion; it’s time all Texans take a serious look at individual water-use habits and find common-sense ways to conserve. The recent realities are both alarming and painful as drinking water was jeopardized and businesses and households were faced with scarce water resources. With the launch of Texas Water Smart, I’m reminding all Texans that a few drops saved, when multiplied by 25 million citizens, will go a long way.”

The campaign is encouraging Texans to cut back on their residential watering, check outdoor faucets and sprinklers for leaks and conserve water usage in kitchens and bathrooms.

Texas Water Smart asks all Texans to Get Water Smart by adopting more frugal water-use habits such as:

  • Watering only when plants look like they need it, keeping in mind most plants die from over-watering, not under-watering;
  • Checking outdoor faucets, hoses and sprinklers for water-wasting leaks, and making sure to repair them quickly;
  • Adjusting sprinklers so only lawns and gardens are watered – not houses, sidewalks or streets;
  • Cleaning driveways, patios and sidewalks with a broom or leaf blower instead of a hose.

 

For more information on the program, go to www.TexasWaterSmart.com.

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