TWU encourages water education, awareness

Hays County — In a growing area like Hays County, protecting water is of the utmost importance. Ahead of World Water Day, Texas Water Utilities (TWU) is sharing ways it and the community can protect precious resources.

World Water Day is a United Nations day of observation recognized annually on March 22 to raise awareness of the importance of water and to advocate for water conservation and clean water. But the celebration goes beyond global borders and a singular day, according to TWU Vice President Terry Benton. It starts right here in our own state, every day.

Benton said that TWU plays its own role in this, helping to educate its customers and the public year-round on how they can protect water resources and be responsible stewards of water — like making sure people are aware of the impact they have on their surroundings when pouring things out, dumping things down a drain or flushing things down a toilet.

“A lot of our water is from surface water,” Benton said. “Anything that gets into a lake, river or stream could be impacted … We also serve a large population with groundwater. Things get on the ground and soak in. It can get into an aquifer, even several hundred feet below, and create issues.”

Other water protection tips from TWU include:

• Watching out for leaks and notifying your water utility if you or a neighbor have a leak, as leaks on the customer side of the meter can drain water storage tanks and disrupt service. TWU launched a neighborhood system status dashboard where customers can view the status of their water and wastewater systems and report leaks.

• Be cognizant of clogs; do not flush feminine hygiene products or “flushable” wipes, as they can clog pipes and backup sewer systems.

• Keep an eye on water hoses, as hoses left unattended such as in a chlorinated pool or livestock trough can backflow through the hose into your home’s pipes and potentially contaminate the distribution system.

• Protect your pipes year-round and contact your utility provider to locate water or sewer lines if you or your contractor are doing projects that involve digging in your yard.

According to Benton, based on last year’s drought conditions, the state is a “bit better off” this year in comparison, including water in the Austin area. Many lakes are at “conservation level,” which offers a good start to the year ahead of Texas’ brutal summers.

However, that doesn’t mean everything is smooth sailing. Sources like the Edwards Aquifer always have “minimal risk,” and TWU monitors the aquifer’s conditions throughout the year, said Benton.

Ultimately, he assured that TWU and other entities are aware of the county’s growth and what it means for its water. Along with being communicative with cities, privately-held organizations, municipal utility districts (MUD) and other special utility districts, TWU collaborates with the Texas Association of Water Companies to plan ahead and be on top of local requests and demands.

The key? Staying ahead of the curve.

“For TWU, we recognize growth. In conversations with developers and landowners well in advance, we plan ahead for new wells or service water increase or [the] purchase of additional water service rights from farmers or river authorities to increase our volume that's available,” Benton said. “We look at piping water in water-rich areas. If we have to go 10 to 15 miles outside of town to pipe it into where we’re serving, we look at that also.”