Drought forces calls for water savings

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The heat is not stopping environmental groups from going door to door asking people to sign petitions for tougher water restrictions and more money for water conservation for the City of Austin.

Noting low levels at Lake Travis, and low flows at Barton Springs Pool, Environment Texas director Luke Metzger says the Austin City Council should increase funding for water conservation by at least one-third.

"Last summer there was a big blitz of commercials [for conservation]," said Metzger. "We're not seeing nearly as much this summer."

Metzger said the city should look into more rebate programs for businesses to reduce water usage.

He said the City of Austin currently projects 177.5 gallons per day for water users, well below the 140 gallons per day encouraged by the Texas Water Development Board.

The city of San Antonio, Metzger said, projects 136 gallons per day due to tougher water restrictions.

Those statistics, might not be painting the whole picture, said Austin Water Utility Spokesman Kevin Buchman.

He said the residential average for gallons per day is about 99 gallons, and said high tech companies in Austin require a large amount of clean water, which can push the overall average for gallons per day higher.

Buchman said conservation commercials are playing this summer and said watering restrictions and have helped reduce the amount of water usage.

"We're even below our peak day use from where we were last year," said Buchman.

Still, Metzger said the city council needs to look at increasing its water conservation budget to offer more rebates for toilets and shower heads, as one example.

Environmental groups also say more conservation could keep Austin from building another expensive water treatment plant along a very low Lake Travis during the drought. Water Utility officials say they are going ahead with plans to build the water plant which will save money on energy costs because of such an aging infrastructure.

Meanwhile, lake levels continue to fall. Sunday afternoon, Lake Travis, which helps supply water to Austin, was at 640.62 feet, which is 28 feet below its monthly average. The current lake level puts it at its fifth lowest level on record. If the water level falls below 640.24 feet, it will become the lowest level since 1984.