City conserves water by planting smart

PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) - Concern over the future of Texas’ water supply is growing.

The city of Pflugerville has come up with a new plan to encourage people to reduce water use, save money, and spruce-up their front yards at the same time.

“It just takes less water, and the extra money is always good,” Pflugerville homeowner John Dupre said.

Dupre recently decided to take advantage of the city’s incentives by giving his landscape a makeover.

“I save money on my water bill, it looks better, and I get a substantial rebate for doing it. So it is a good deal all around,” Dupre said.

A deal the city of Pflugerville decided to offer to tackle a growing problem.

“The city started noticing an increased use of water,” City employee Eddie Garcia said. “A lot of residents were trying to salvage their landscapes and their turfs and so forth. Their water bills were astronomical.”

“Water has become a very expensive commodity all over the place – mainly here in central Texas,” Garcia said.

The city’s program, dubbed Drop by Drop , encourages residents to think before they plant.

Here is how it works:

Residents who plant trees, shrubs and grass that are native to the region and do not require much water to live, qualify for rebates up to 50 percent, not to exceed $500.

Since 2001, the program has paid more than $28,000 in rebates.

“It won’t pay for everything, but it’ll give you an incentive to get a proper design, get the right kind of plants, get the right type of sprinkler system installed and conserve water for the future,” Garcia said. “That is what it’s all about”

People who participate in the program say it makes sustainable landscaping simple.

“The hardest part is doing the work – not dealing with the city,” Dupre said.

If you live in Pflugerville and would like to learn more about the Drop by Drop rebate program , contact the program director, Eddie Garcia, at 990-6355.

The program lasts through June 15, 2013.

If you have questions regarding which plant, tree and grass species use the least amount of water, contact Pflugerville area nursery Green ‘n Growing .