The city’s water conservation campaign cites a whole roster of “Reasons to Observe and Conserve Water,” including climate change. They include:

• Water is a finite resource for a city, state, and planet with a growing population.

• Removing less water from the Colorado River is environmentally beneficial, because it leaves more for wildlife, aquatic life, and downstream bays and estuaries.

• Water conservation is the most direct and effective way to reduce AWU’s greenhouse-gas emissions, by reducing the energy required for water treatment and pumping.

• Water conservation is a direct way for citizens to participate in the Austin Climate Protection Plan.

• Lowered household water use translates to lower bills for customers.

• Successful conservation citywide can forestall hitting a usage “trigger” for LCRA additional payments, postponing an estimated 3-5% customer rate increase.

Source: www.cityofaustin.org/watercon.

This article appears in February 20 • 2009.

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