Whether you are in California, Nevada, Colorado or Frisco Texas, there are many areas in the US that are suffering from a bad drought. It is up to the residents of these cities and their representatives to come up with plans to reduce their requirements and demands for water. Many of us simply just do not know the best ways to
conserve water. Frisco Texas is focused on reducing our water requirements regardless of our growth rate.
Conservation Versus Efficiency
The North Carolina DNR Water Efficiency Manual defines water efficiency and water conservation as follows::
"Water efficiency" means using improved technologies and practices that deliver equal or better service with less water. For example, leak detection programs can reduce the amount of water, pressure, and energy required to deliver the same amount of water to consumers' taps.
"Water conservation" has been associated with curtailment of water use and doing "less" with less water, typically during a water shortage, such as a drought. For example, minimizing lawn watering in order to conserve water.
While efficiency is good, when you continue to use more water than required, you create more demand than is necessary and this is where conservation comes in to play. Frisco is part of 13 member cities of the North Texas Water Municipal District. All the cities are in stage 3 of the NTMWD Water Conservation and Drought Contingency and Water Emergency Response Plan. Now that may frighten people but that is mostly because they do not understand the details behind this plan.
A City with a Plan
The city of Frisco's public works, division of water efficiency has created Frisco WaterWise. This past Saturday 
morning I volunteered as a WaterWise block captain. Since I am the HOA President I can help communicate the importance of water conservation to my neighbors as well as the entire community. In fact, I am arranging for this group to be one of our speakers at our annual meeting. Some of the initiatives are very easy to comply with if you know about them.
Benefits the city is providing to residents include:
- Free irrigation check ups to help them address leaks, sprinkler head types, controllers and many other things that are from inexpensive to moderately expensive changes.
- Rain barrels to be purchase for a nominal fee with easy self installation instructions.
- Learn to Live Green Exposition that will be held in Plano
- Access to the Texas Smartscape Partnership
This spring I will be making an investment into my landscaping and irrigation systems. With the help of the public works department particularly the water efficiency division, I hope to document the changes I make throughout the learning curve and document these for other residents and future residents. Understanding these changes will provide you additional information to make your home easier to sell due to the increased efficiency or a stronger buyer because of the knowledge you now have about water conservation and efficiency. If you live in a drought area, what are you and your city doing about it?
While I am proud to be a volunteer focused on this issue, my investment of time is also an additional way I help bring value to my clients. Because as my existing clients already know, when you work with me: Your Success is My Focus.
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