With Water Like Energy, Conservation Is the Only Way

Dear Editor,
    Thank you for recognizing the city’s move of the proposed $500 million Water Treatment Plant No. 4 out of the Bull Creek Preserve as a top local story for 2007 [“Top 10 Local Stories,” News, Jan. 4]. The move was critical to protecting Bull Creek headwater springs and endangered-species habitat.
    In 2008 the City Council will hopefully come to see in water what they have finally understood in energy: that the only affordable, sustainable, and environmentally responsible route is to avoid building expensive new plants by investing in conservation. As a community, we waste a lot of water. It makes no sense to spend half a billion rate-payer dollars when we can spend one-tenth that much on conservation and not need a new water plant for 20 years or more.
    Treating and pushing water around also consumes enormous amounts of energy. If Austin Energy is going to achieve its goal of avoiding building a new power plant, we must adopt the same goal for the water utility. Consuming less water also means we protect Lake Travis as a recreational resource and protect fish and wildlife and communities downstream. Let’s stop this water boondoggle in 2008.