El Paso is Committed to Water Conservation

In an ongoing effort toward solving Texas ‘critical water crisis, today I joined with El Paso Mayor John Cook and challenged  El Pasoans to step up their daily water conservation efforts by utilizing the Texas Water Smart program. This afternoon, Mayor Cook declared his support for continued conservation and announced that El Paso will join the Texas Water Smart coalition.

It’s important to remember, we cannot restrict and ration our way to growth. Citizen-led conservation efforts are our best alternative to mandated restrictions that can hurt our economy. Our recent historical drought and booming population point to an unavoidable conclusion; it’s time all Texans take a serious look at individual water use habits and find common-sense ways to conserve. With Texas Water Smart, a few drops saved, when multiplied by 26 million citizens, adds up to big savings.

Texas Water Smart, launched last spring, is a public-private partnership of nearly 300 businesses, associations, research organizations and state and local officials. Through a highly successful consumer education program, Texas Water Smart has raised awareness about water conservation by encouraging homeowners and businesses to adopt daily habits to curb wasteful water usage.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor report shows El Paso continues to deal with severe drought conditions. As an arid city El Paso has experience in dealing with these conditions and the community has embraced conservation as a way of life for more than 20 years. By adopting conservation programs such as “Less is the New More,” the city of El Paso saved more than a half-billion gallons of water in 2012 than in 2011. Texas Water Smart, in partnership with El Paso’s existing water plan that utilizes conservation and the development of new water resources, will help serve residents growing water needs for years to come.

For helpful tips on water conservation, you can click on www.TexasWaterSmart.com.