For Immediate Release: July 26, 2006
Media Contacts: Bill McCann, 512-473-4032 or Tad Druart, 512-473-3584 (LCRA)
Laurie Lentz, City of Austin Water Utility, (512) 972-0151; pager, (512) 802-8958
(AUSTIN, Texas) — In a joint effort to help people extend and protect the region’s water supply, LCRA and the City of Austin today (July 26) unveiled a new water awareness campaign aimed at more than one million Central Texans.
The campaign, “Water IQ: Know your water,” is designed to make people aware of the source of their water, inform them about the importance of water for our future and offer simple tips to help people save water in homes and businesses. The campaign reflects the role of both the City of Austin and LCRA as water utility providers and LCRA’s responsibility as manager of the lower Colorado River/Highland Lakes system.
“We are excited about this partnership and the potential to help us stretch our existing water supply for the next 100 years and beyond,” said LCRA General Manager Joe Beal. “As the supplier of water to the City of Austin, we have a responsibility to work with the City to inform people about how easy it is to save water so that we can help the City in the difficult job of treating and delivering water to people. Saving water can reduce and delay the costs of new treatment facilities and protect this valuable and limited resource.”
“Austin grew up around the Colorado River, and it will always play a significant role in the environmental, economic and cultural vitality of our community,” said Austin City Manager Toby Hammett Futrell. “Like LCRA, the City takes to heart our stewardship of this resource. Together we will ensure that the river will remain a source of life and livelihood for future generations.”
The two organizations agreed to partner on the awareness campaign after research indicated that when consumers learn where their water comes from, they are more likely to save and protect it. Unfortunately, according to the same research by the Texas Water Development Board, four out of five Texans don’t know the natural source of their water. This campaign is designed to help bridge that information gap. Water IQ explains that the lower Colorado River is the natural source of water for most Austin and LCRA customers, while communicating that there will be enough water for the future if people use it efficiently now.
“The state’s water planning process includes assumptions about people and communities taking action to conserve water,” said John Burke, chair of the Lower Colorado River Regional Planning Group (Region K), the entity charged by the state with coordinating the long-term water resource plan for the lower Colorado River. “We are excited to see LCRA and the City of Austin partner and take a leadership role in creating awareness for the simple ways people can save water. The Colorado River will provide plenty of water for future generations if we all do what we can to save water today.”
Colorado River Water Interest and Use is RisingOn average, residential customers in Travis County neighborhoods are using anywhere from 180 to 300 gallons of water per person, per day. With the region’s rapid growth, that consumption adds up quickly. Residents of communities such as San Antonio use about 140 to 145 gallons per person per day. While the Water IQ campaign will challenge Austinites to reduce use by 10 percent, the vision of the program developers is that, even if our population doubles, water consumption would only increase slightly. The initial focus of the campaign is to stretch the existing water supply by reducing outdoor water use, which accounts for about 60 percent of summer water use. [Editor’s note: See sidebar for water-saving tips]
The Water IQ campaign will use television, radio and newspaper ads, outdoor billboards, gas pump advertising, a Web site, media relations and face-to-face outreach to inform people how simple saving water is. The TV spots will feature a variety of humorous scenarios, with the main message being to “save water from the Colorado River, use just 10 percent less water.” In the coming months, the Water IQ outreach tour will host free community events at home improvement stores and other public venues in the region to inform people how they can save water at home.
“I believe people want to do the right thing,” said Austin City Council Member Lee Leffingwell. “Most people don’t waste water intentionally. I know Austinites will be receptive to this message and do their part to preserve the resources of the Colorado.”
While saving water is just as important in wet periods as in dry times, it is especially apparent during a drought. The current drought, for example, has affected the levels of both Lakes Buchanan and Travis – the lower Colorado River’s two water supply reservoirs for Central Texas.
“Saving water is the right thing for each of us to do no matter whether we are in a rainy period or a drought such has been the case for the past year,” added Beal. “The current drought, and its impact on lake levels, helps people visualize the importance of water more effectively.”
About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority provides energy, water and community services to help improve the quality of life for the people of Texas. These include providing electricity and water supplies, managing floods, owning and operating water and wastewater utilities, providing public recreation areas and supporting community and economic development.
About City of Austin
The City of Austin is one of the 20 largest in the country. Austin City government owns and operates both Austin Energy and Austin Water Utility, and provides a broad range of economic development, water conservation and quality protection, and recreational services to the local community. Austin Water Utility delivers treated water to more than 192,500 customers.
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