Frisco continues to work towards reducing water consumption by 10 percent and remains at Stage 3 restrictions, as recommended by the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD). Yesterday, the North Texas Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors approved its staff recommendation to relax restrictions and move from ‘enhanced’ to ‘regular’ Stage 3 water management measures, [...]

With water scarcity emerging as a major global issue in the 21st century, the drought in Texas highlights the need for farmers to get more out of limited water supplies. Some are using new irrigation methods which give them more crop per drop.

The driest year and the hottest July and August on record have taken a toll on the region’s crops, costing the state’s farmers and ranchers more than $5 billion so far.

Effective November 1, the City of Frisco will move to Stage 3 drought restrictions as outlined in its Drought Contingency and Water Emergency Response Plan at the direction of the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD).

The NTMWD reports Lavon Lake could be dry by fall 2012, under worst case conditions.

During the October 17 Town Hall meeting, North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) representative Mike Rickman cautioned residents to use water wisely. Gary Hartwell, Frisco’s Director of Public Works, reiterated the importance of shutting off sprinklers.

There has been growing concern and research into the chemicals released by laundry products, air fresheners, cleaners, lotions and other synthetically scented consumer products. Surprisingly, manufacturers are not required to disclose the ingredients used in fragrances, or in laundry products.

“This is an interesting source of pollution because emissions from dryer vents are essentially unregulated and unmonitored,” said Anne Steinemann, a University of Washington professor of civil and environmental engineering and of public affairs. “If they’re coming out of a smokestack or tail pipe, they’re regulated, but if they’re coming out of a dryer vent, they’re not.”

As Director of Public Works for the City of Frisco, Gary Hartwell spends a lot of time thinking about water. He even goes so far as to take the job home, using his own irrigation system, landscaping and yard as a test site for new equipment and ideas. Over the past few years, “smart” controllers have come and gone, but one part of his system remained constant.

“I’ve always had the standard spray heads and some rotors in my backyard,” he said.

A few months ago, Hartwell decided to test yet another controller. In the course of making the change, the manufacturer’s representative mentioned a new product: high efficiency spray nozzles that insure that more of the water you try to put on your lawn actually ends up there.

Leaving water running can leave future generations down the drain. Image: friscogreenliving.com

If you want to save something, try water. It’s going fast. Depletion of the U.S. water supply isn’t something you can argue about. It’s visible, measurable and predictable. Since 2005, every U.S. region has been short on water, and use increases annually. Even New York City has experienced drought in recent years.

Population growth is one factor in the shortage. But the more sobering issue is that the U.S. water supply itself is in permanent decline.