Conservation – 1: How You Can Save Ground Water and Your Money

In previous articles we reviewed MUD 8 operations, the Lone Star Groundwater Conversion District proposed project to use treated Lake Conroe water to reduce ground water consumption and the current San Jacinto River Authority WRAP work underway to define the final conversion to surface water project and cost.

From these previous articles, you will remember that:

• The LSGCD has mandated a 30% reduction in groundwater usage by 2015.
• If implemented as proposed in the May, 2008 LSGCD plan to treat and distribute Lake Conroe surface water to users throughout Montgomery County, the project has a projected capital cost of $2.328 Billion, and may require about $12 Billion in fee collections over its estimated 51 year life.
• Use of Lake Conroe water is project to increase until approximately 25% of Lake Conroe water volume will be used each         year starting in about 2045.
• MUD 8 water bills are projected to increase dramatically to support this plan.

All of these requirements simply mandate each of us to conserve as much water as possible as quickly as possible. Reducing water consumption should reduce project costs, reduce water demands on Lake Conroe, and mitigate any property devaluation from reduced lake  levels caused by consuming Lake Conroe water.

The MUD 8 website has descriptions of how to change the way we irrigate to reduce water used. Being smart about how we water our lawns and gardens is perhaps our best opportunity to conserve water, make progress towards meeting the 30% groundwater reduction mandate, and reduce cost to the District and individual customers.

Please click on http://www.montgomerycountymud8.com and then click on the six (6) links discussing need to conserve water, incentives to change our way of irrigation, rain sensor installation, conversion from spray head irrigation to soaker hose irrigation, drip head irrigation (two articles) and how to make these suggested changes.

Individually or collectively each of these forms of irrigation compared to conventional irrigation will save us water and you money.

Please take time to review these alternative methods of irrigation and consider adapting one or more of these methods to your individual irrigation requirements.

The next article will discuss using recycled water for irrigation as a means to reduce our use of treated ground water and help meet LSGCD mandated 30 % reduction in groundwater use.

Data and information included herein has been assembled to the best of MUD 8 ability and is believed to be correct. MUD 8 and Staff assume no responsibility or liability for the use of this information by party or parties outside of the direct supervision of MUD 8 and Staff.

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