Urban Water Resources – Programming Areas Bruce Lesikar Texas AgriLife Extension Service

Presentation Overview Water - do we have extra?Water - do we have extra? How can we make a difference?How can we make a difference? How to address the water issue?How to address the water issue? Our programsOur programs What to do?What to do?

Do We Have Unused Water? No!!! Water Conservation – Management of our water resources, efficient use, water quality protection

Hydrologic Cycle

Development Changes Local Hydrology How we manage development defines the available water sources

How Do You Foster Change? Provide general knowledge Build capacity in practitioners Remove barriers: political, financial, regulations, codes, ordinances Provide encouragement –Positive Incentives Free stuff –Negative Pricing Fines Environmental regulations

Water Supply & Demand Surface waterSurface water GroundwaterGroundwater Mineralized GroundwaterMineralized Groundwater Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico Alternative suppliesAlternative supplies –Harvested Rainwater –Condensate –Graywater –Wastewater reuse DriversDrivers –Economics –Public & political will –Energy & water nexus –Perception In-home water use: drinking, washing, toilet, & laundryIn-home water use: drinking, washing, toilet, & laundry Landscaping: home & businessLandscaping: home & business Green space: athletic fields, parks & golf coursesGreen space: athletic fields, parks & golf courses Pets & WildlifePets & Wildlife HorticultureHorticulture Animal productionAnimal production Crop, Forest, Range, Forage productionCrop, Forest, Range, Forage production Irrigation field cropsIrrigation field crops Commercial businesses: everything needs water – place to workCommercial businesses: everything needs water – place to work Streams & wetlandsStreams & wetlands Lakes: water supply, recreation & habitatLakes: water supply, recreation & habitat Water featuresWater features Swimming poolsSwimming pools

Preference and Feasibility – Region C What is desirable? What is feasible? How to change? –Public acceptance –New knowledge –Technology –Build capacity –Attitude – Tradition –Modify infrastructure –Reuse treated wastewater –Interbasin water transfer –Build new reservoirs –Require efficient ag. Irrigation –Require industrial water reuse –Purchase and lease water rights –Aquifer storage and recovery –Residential rainwater harvesting –Water saving landscape ordinances –Require water efficient appliances –Require ag irrig. water scheduling –Residential graywater use –Plant drought tolerant crops –Drill new wells

Addressing Water Issues Water literacy – understand water issuesWater literacy – understand water issues Earthkind plants - efficient useEarthkind plants - efficient use Earthkind landscapesEarthkind landscapes Efficient irrigation systems – Irrigation practitionersEfficient irrigation systems – Irrigation practitioners Management of Irrigation systemsManagement of Irrigation systems Turf grass management – SAFE, golf coursesTurf grass management – SAFE, golf courses Stormwater managementStormwater management Stream processesStream processes Stream restorationStream restoration Youth knowledgeYouth knowledge Plant diseases & waterPlant diseases & water Entomology & waterEntomology & water Watershed protection plans – fertilization, livestock production, waste managementWatershed protection plans – fertilization, livestock production, waste management Onsite wastewater treatment and reuseOnsite wastewater treatment and reuse Graywater systemsGraywater systems In-home conservationIn-home conservation In-home reuse & non- potable toilet flushingIn-home reuse & non- potable toilet flushing Rainwater harvestingRainwater harvesting Land management for efficient water useLand management for efficient water use Mineralized water treatment - desalinizationMineralized water treatment - desalinization

What can we make a difference? Everyone involved!!!! All audiences need some water literacy Who will be faced with the really tough decisions?????

Water Literacy How can we help people make informed decisions about water conservation? Need a working understanding of relationship between supply, storage and demand!!!!!! What is a good approach to helping people gain a functional knowledge of these factors????

Rainwater Harvesting Calculate available supply based on rainfall & roof area Decide on the size of reservoir Decide on the water demand –Drinking / Indoor –Landscape –Wildlife –Animals

City Water Conservation Programs Leak Detection—city lines Residential Water Audits Landscape Requirements Plumbing & Appliance Retrofits/Rebates Education Programs Differential Pricing [i.e. more use=more $$$] Fugitive Water [i.e. h 2 o running down streets] Reuse/Reclaimed Water

Wastewater Reuse - Graywater Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Graywater law HB Septic Regulations – January 2005 Separate blackwater and graywater and use graywater for landscape Landscape irrigation

Separate graywater and blackwater collection and treatment systems.

Irrigation Practitioner Training

Groundwater Management through Conservation Districts State’s preferred method for Groundwater Management Locally elected Board of Directors Local decisions on how to manage groundwater Difficult to actually decrease or limit groundwater use

Groundwater Conservation Districts Creation Process - Overview Action of the Legislature Landowner Petition Initiated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Adding Territory to an Existing District

New GCD Once a designation is made the clock starts…….. –County courts are notified to begin action Temporary board of directors Election schedule –Texas AgriLife Extension Service is notified to begin educational programs Texas AgriLife Extension Service

North Central Texas PGMA 13 County PGMA Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson Hood, Johnson, Montague, Parker, Tarrant, Wise District formed: Hood Parker, Wise Montague, Tarrant

Central Texas PGMA Five county PGMA Bosque, Coryell, Hill, McLennon, Somervell Established October 28, 2008

Summary Water - do we have extra? How can we make a difference? How to address the water issue? Our programs What to do work? Current infrastructure