Conservation Must Continue During 2022 Drought

Over the past weeks many of us received replenishing amounts of rain. After months of prolonged hot dry weather, these life-giving rains are truly a blessing. So did these rains “break the drought.” While they helped and are a nice respite, unfortunately they are not enough to loosen the grip of the drought we are currently experiencing. As evidence of this one need only note that many stream flows and lake levels across the central U.S. did not increase appreciably due to these rains. The Earth was thirsty and soaked much of it up.  As recently as last week there were news reports of water being trucked into several small Texas communities as groundwater levels remained very low. The impact of drought conditions far outlast the heat and dryness.

According to the Austin American-Statesman, the Texas economy lost more than $7 billion in the 2011 drought due to the losses in livestock and agriculture. The 2011 event has been recorded as the worst drought in recent memory, likened to the 1950s dust bowl drought event.  A comparison of the US Drought Monitor for August 23, 2011 vs. August 23, 2022 shows a broader area of drought this year vs. a concentration of drought in Texas/New Mexico/Oklahoma in 2011.  This results in a higher Drought Severity and Coverage Index (DSCI) for 2022 of 161 vs. a DSCI of 128 for the same date in 2011.

While we do not know yet the environmental and economic impacts of the megadrought of 2022 that has gripped Texas and much of the Southwest, this drought is intense and more extreme than usual for this time of year. As Texas’ population continues to increase, we all need to do our part to conserve our resources. So, we have compiled tips to reduce water and energy consumption that should become the new normal in households across the state.

Tips to save water and energy:

• Limit showers to one a day and keep under 8 minutes. In larger households try to limit shower time to under 4 minutes per person (a four-minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water). To make good use of water twice, place containers in the shower to catch water and use it to water your plants. Or with little ones, bathe two at a time in one tub of water.

• Do not let the water run during grooming! Turn it off when you brush your teeth. Running water for one minute from a regular tap equates to 3 gallons of potable water down the drain!

• Wait until you have a full load of laundry before you begin to save both water and money; and only use hot water for very dirty laundry.

• Refrigerate some tap water so you do not let it run at the sink until it is cool.

• Dishwashers are much more water efficient than hand-washing dishes. Stack dishes until it is completely full, so you make the most of the energy and water used in every wash.

• Look for leakages in your home by checking the water meter before and after a 2-hour period of no water use.

• Replace an old toilet with a new one, which can reduce water usage by 70 percent or invest in a dual flush model.

• Change your lightbulbs. Replacing just a single regular light bulb with a LED lightbulb can save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year, reducing the amount released into the atmosphere.

• Do not run the washing machine, dryer or dishwasher during peak demand hours-- between 4 pm – 8 pm, as it will help reduce demand for electricity at this critical time of the day.

• Use shades or dark curtains on the sunny side of your house or office to prevent intense warming from the sun and thus making your AC work harder.

• Insulate your home. The majority of homes in Texas already have proper insulation, but take the next step and insulate your attic where much of the air conditioning does the heavy lifting, thereby reducing the electrical load and wear and tear on your mechanical system.

• Recycle as much as possible to reduce burden on landfills and the greenhouse gases they emit. It comes down to reducing, reusing and recycling, and we all can do our part.

 While these suggestions may seem insignificant, when implemented long-term they will actually save you a considerable amount of money while reducing your overall carbon footprint.