Staples Shares Water Conservation Message

Save Texas' precious water.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, along with other state and local leaders, brought the message of a new statewide water conservation awareness campaign to the Panhandle-South Plains region in Lubbock and Amarillo during June.

Texas Water Smart is a public-private coalition that encourages households and business to prevent water waste through common sense and conservation practices.

"Our recent historical drought and booming population point to an unavoidable conclusion—it's time for all Texans to take a serious look at individual water use habits and find common sense ways to conserve," Staples said. "With the Texas Water Smart program, I'm reminding all Texans that even a little water saved—when multiplied by 26 million citizens—will go a long way."

A comprehensive consumer education initiative, the Texas Water Smart program is using television, radio and print ads; social media; and other public awareness tools to show Texans easy and practical ways to conserve water. Commissioner Staples and other state/business leaders launched the Texas Water Smart campaign this spring.

"Drought goes beyond brown yards," Staples said. "Drought impacts funding of basic needs, and it impacts farming. We must make sure that farmers and ranchers have water necessary to keep their livelihood going."

The Texas Water Smart campaign suggests watering landscapes only when plants look like they need water—keeping in mind that most landscape plants actually die from over-watering and not under-watering.

Texas Water Smart also notes the importance of regularly checking outdoor faucets, hoses, and sprinklers for leaks, and making sure to repair them quickly.

Sprinklers and spray heads also should be adjusted to where it is the landscape that actually is being watered—and not the driveways, sidewalks, and streets.

Additional water conservation tips from the Texas Water Smart campaign can be easily found online at www.TexasWaterSmart.com.