Friday, May 31, 1996

State Urges All Texans to Conserve Water

By MICHAEL HOLMES
Associated Press

AUSTIN - Although the vast majority of public water systems are coping well so far, every individual must help save water as the withering drought continues, Texans were told Thursday.

Gov. George W. Bush and state water officials said conservation is the key to preserving adequate supplies of drinking water.

"I urge every Texan to join us in conserving our water, literally one drop at a time," Bush said.

"Conservation can take place every day. And we want Texans to heed this call. Conserving our natural resources involves every one of us. There really is no silver lining to this cloud. I wish there were more clouds, and God knows there will be one of these days."

Bush said the state won't require specific conservation measures from localities because drought conditions vary widely from one area to another.

However, he voiced confidence that all Texans would do their part to save water. "I'm confident people will respond," he said.

"We need a lot of rain, but neither the governor nor the state (government) can make that happen," Bush said. "What we can do is provide expertise to help local communities maintain a safe drinking water supply and urge conservation to extend our water resources as much as possible."

As part of the drive, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission and the Texas Water Development Board unveiled a public awareness campaign with the slogan, "Every drop makes a difference."

Among the conservation suggestions: take showers rather than baths, install low-flow showerheads and toilets, keep drinking water in the refrigerator rather than running the tap until it gets cold, wash only full loads of dishes and clothes, don't overwater lawns, water early in the morning or late at night to avoid evaporation, and landscape with native plants.

Of the state's 6,880 public water systems, serving more than 15 million people, only two so far have experienced problems. Those are Edgewood in Van Zandt County and Los Fresnos in the Rio Grande Valley, said Barry McBee, chairman of the natural resource agency.

"Texas today has far more than adequate supplies of drinking water for our public," McBee said.

McBee and William Madden, who chairs the water development board, said that as the drought continues it poses several dangers to water systems around the state. These include increased demands for water, equipment failures and possibly water shortages.

"We can get through this drought if we use more efficient water system management," McBee said.
Madden said seven of the 10 climatic regions of Texas now are in severe drought, while two are in moderate drought and one in mild drought.

Agriculture Commissioner Rick Perry last week said the drought already has done $2.4 billion damage to farmers and ranchers, an economic toll that makes it the second-largest natural disaster in Texas history.

While drinking water supplies are in good shape for the foreseeable future, the officials said the state is responding in several ways. These include monitoring weather and water supply conditions, providing technical assistance and regulatory relief when needed, and conducting a comprehensive public awareness campaign.

Television and radio announcements, news reports and conservation brochures will be used to help make all Texans aware of the problems and actions they can take.