North Fort Bend Water Authority

1. Spring 2013
NFBWA BOARD OF
DIRECTORS Authority on Track to Meet Conversion Deadlines
Good news for the North Fort Bend Water Authority (the “Authority”):
David Spell, The Fort Bend Subsidence District has given it (and all other Groundwater
Precinct 1 Reduction Plans in Regulatory Area A) another year – to 2014 – to reach its
initial goal of converting 30 percent of its usage from groundwater to alternate
Robert Darden, water, primarily surface water.
Precinct 2 Even better news: The Authority is already on track to reach that 30 percent
goal in mid-2013, which means it will have another year to accumulate valuable
Bruce Fay, over-conversion credits.
Precinct 3 As of last count, the Authority had converted 13 separate municipal utility
districts to surface water – which together account for up to 23 percent surface
Melony F. Gay, P.E., water conversion for the current month. Another 10 MUDs are set for conversion
Precinct 4 by this summer, says Authority engineer Melinda Silva, of Brown & Gay
Engineers Inc.
Robert L. Patton, “We have been working diligently, so you can see we will be even further
Precinct 5 ahead,” Silva said. “We’ll be able to accumulate that many more over-conversion
credits, and that will be of great benefit to the Authority and its rate payers.”
Peter Houghton, The Authority -- which encompasses 69 utility districts and two cities,
Precinct 6 Fulshear and Arcola -- is under mandate from the Fort Bend Subsidence District
to reduce its dependence on groundwater. Over-pumping of groundwater is
Pat Hebert, responsible for subsidence across the region, which can cause flooding and
Precinct 7 foundation problems, and can permanently harm the aquifer as well.
As of January 2013, 18 separate construction projects have been completed,
15 are under construction and 4 are starting design. These projects, which will
wrap up what the Authority requires for the 2014 conversion, started on its east
side – near the “take point” or connection with the Houston water system –
and have been working west, headed for the Grand Parkway, and then north
toward the Cinco Southwest area.
Construction also is progressing
quickly on what will be another major
accomplishment for the Authority: A new
pump station that should be coming on
line this summer. The new pump station
will replace an older facility the Authority
has been leasing from the City of Houston,
Find and fix leaks and will provide the Authority with more
surface water delivery capacity.
to save water
“The end user at their homes are not
and money! going to notice anything different when
Continued on page 2
NORTH FORT BEND WATER AUTHORITY  www.nfbwa.com
c/o Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP  3200 Southwest Freeway,  Suite 2600  Houston, Texas 77027
1

2. Conversion...Continued from page 1
that new pump station goes into operation,” Silva
explains. “But from an operational standpoint, the
permanent pump station will be much larger and
give the Authority much more capability. Plus, it is
their own station and designed for their needs. On
the to-do list for the Authority, as far as reaching the
conversion deadlines, it will be a huge milestone.”
“That is quite a lot of work,” Silva said. “The
original water construction estimate was $48.1 million
and the final construction cost was $34.4 million for
these 18 completed projects. We were able to take
advantage of the downturn in the economy and the
lower construction costs, to the benefit of our rate
payers.
“Phenomenal” Growth... Authority meets short-term alternate water goals, as
While the savings and over-conversion credits facilities that are part of the long-term surface water
are good financial news for the Authority, the work supplies are completed.
occurs against the backdrop of revised census data In a related development elsewhere in the region,
and “phenomenal” growth in the north Fort Bend a decision affecting an Authority partner will have
County area. This growth means greater demand important repercussions for Authority rate payers as
for water, and increased pressure for conversion to well, Silva said. The Harris-Galveston Subsidence
alternate sources. District has given the West Harris County Regional
Peter Houghton, president of the Authority’s Water Authority (the West Authority) five more years
Board of Directors, says “The Authority has delivered – until 2025 – to reach its second phase of conversion
water earlier than required. We’re ahead of schedule. to alternate water. The Subsidence District also
We’re building up credits. We have plans lined up changed the percentage conversion goal for 2025
to meet our long-term needs” Houghton explaines, from 70 percent to 60 percent.
“but the exceptionally rapid growth in North Fort The Authority is partnering with the West
Bend could create some interim challenges…prior to Authority on that second phase, which includes
some of these major long-term surface water projects construction of a massive cross-town “second source”
being completed.” That rapid growth has fueled the water line bringing surface water from Lake Houston
Authority’s exploration of various alternate water to west Harris County and north Fort Bend County.
sources other than surface water to ensure that the The decision to extend the deadline will help spread
out the cost of that huge project – and the necessary
rate increases to pay for it – over a longer period,
Silva explained.
“Things take time to design and build. It was a
balancing act,” Silva said. “The regulatory agency
was trying to balance their objectives for alternate
water conversion with the reality of what it takes
to achieve that conversion. We’re not slowing
down. We’re just trying to bring all this together in a
reasonable and cost-effective way.”
Such decisions affect the “Rubik’s Cube” that is
the alternate water conversion challenge, Houghton
said. “For North Fort Bend, we need to be even more
innovative. How much can we conserve? How much
can we reuse?”
Houghton is confident the Authority will meet its
challenges. In the meantime, conservation of precious
2

3. and expensive water resources remains a key part of
the Authority’s mission.
“We have to change the perception that water
is free,” the Authority president said. “We have to
change people’s usage and habits, and that can be
even more challenging than all this construction.”
Under the Authority’s mandate, alternate water
must initially replace 30 percent of the groundwater
now pumped by approximately 140 permitted wells
within Authority boundaries, which will increase
to a 60 percent conversion in 2025. For example,
reducing groundwater usage by 30 percent means
replacing it with roughly 14.5 million gallons per
day (MGD) of alternate water in 2013 but that
number grows with the population growth.
Conversion to alternate water is a massive and
expensive undertaking. To date, the Authority has
installed approximately 36 miles of new water lines,
in addition to construction of a new pump station and
storage facilities. To fund all projects and right-of-way
needed for the initial conversion deadline, as well as
a portion needed for the next conversion phase, the
Authority has sold over $280 million in bonds. The
bonds are being repaid through groundwater and
surface water fees charged to the well owners subject
to the Authority’s Groundwater Reduction Plan. 
3

4. Be careful what you throw away...
Greasy food scraps can come back to haunt you!
For a lot of families, the kitchen just seems to be the favorite place to gather.. especially when tempt-
ing aromas beckon and there are lots of tasty tidbits to sample. When the scrumptious meals are over,
however, everything from breakfast scraps to the more bulky “feast” leftovers get scraped into the disposal
in the kitchen sink. It is not quite so appetizing to think of all those shredded greasy food scraps
sliding down the drain where, once they begin to accumulate in the pipes, they can cause some
serious blockage.
Some foods and cooking ingredients are potentially more troublesome than others. Dis-
carded substances like cooking oil, bacon grease, mayonnaise, poultry skin, and pasta can
stagnate in underground plumbing lines and get even messier when joined by dinner roll
scraps, gravy and mashed potatoes. Then sometime later, when the meal is long forgotten,
the sewer system becomes blocked sufficiently to cause a backup inside the house and the
plumber is the only one who benefits from costly remedies and repairs.
While most homeowners may not be aware that commercial establishments and restau-
rants are required to install “grease traps” or interceptors and have them cleaned regularly,
there are no such requirements for private homes. It is up to the homeowner to make sure that
their pipes aren’t clogged up with discarded food.
According to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), most sewer backups occur
between the house and the main sewer lines. This means that it is the resident’s responsibility to cor-
rect the problem. In even more complicated situations, grease blockages in the main lines can cause an
unpleasant chain of events --sanitary sewer overflows lead to pollution of nearby lakes and streams which
create potential health threats for people and wildlife.
Disposal of cooking grease into storm drains has the potential to cause more havoc. The storm drains
lead directly to streams and creeks, so discarded grease can also pollute the nearest water source. Re-
member, any substance poured onto the ground can end up in groundwater. Take the time to dispose
of greasy substances properly...recycle as much as possible and pour cooking oils, lards, and grease into
closeable containers for disposal. Or consider mixing with dry kitty litter until the oil is absorbed and then
place in a zipped-top bag for disposal.
Additional tips for the disposal of grease and leftovers from TCEQ...
 Place grease and used cooking oils in covered collection containers. Let them solidify on the
counter or in the refrigerator before placing them in the garbage.
 Scrape food scraps into trash cans or garbage bags; minimize the use of the disposal.
Non-meat and dairy food items may be placed in a compost pile.
 Remove oil or grease from dishes, pans and griddles by using a rubber spatula or paper towel
to absorb it instead of rinsing it down the sink.
 Do NOT pour cooking oil and grease down the drain...ever.
 Overall, be careful what you scrape into the disposal. Once the
walls of the pipes begin to clog up, all kinds of discarded scraps
can make a bad problem a whole lot worse.
 Don’t run hot water over dishes, pans, fryers or griddles to wash
oil and grease down the drain. 
4

5. Long Range Regional Planning
Aims to Secure Water for Texas
“The availability of water has always TEXAS WATER FACTOIDS...
influenced patterns of settlement, and communities • The population of Texas is expected to increase
in Texas originally grew where water was plentiful. a whopping 82 percent between now and 2060;
But as many of our communities have grown, they growing from 25.4 million to 46.3 million people.
have outstripped their water supplies, making Those numbers, staggering though they are, tell
it necessary to more efficiently use local water only part of the story. And, as with a flowing
resources, to work cooperatively with one another stream, the narrative goes downhill from there.
on regional solutions to water problems, and to • Existing supplies – the amount of deliverable
move water around the state when necessary to water that can be produced with current permits,
meet the needs of all our communities” (From the current contracts, and existing infrastructure
Introduction, WATER FOR TEXAS 2012). during drought are projected to decrease by
Every five years, the Texas Water Development about 10 percent – from roughly 17.0 million
Board (“TWDB”) publishes a state water plan. The acre-feet today to about 15.3 million acre-feet
Water for Texas 2012 plan, adopted in December in 2060 (an acre-foot equals 325,851.4 gallons,
2011, is designed to address the state’s demand for enough to supply about two families for a year).
-- and the available supplies of – water over the next • In light of this anticipated decrease, if Texas
50 years. The TWDB prepares its water plan by does nothing to implement new water supply
gathering data on population and water demands projects or management strategies, then homes,
from sixteen regional water planning areas. businesses, and agricultural enterprises across the
After each region adopts its plan, it is sent state are projected to fall 8.3 million acre-
to TWDB for approval. The TWDB then develops a feet short of needed supply by 2060!
statewide water plan based on information submitted • Texas has 15 major river basins, 8 coastal
basins, and 9 major and 21 minor groundwater
by the sixteen regions, as well as other sources. Both
aquifers, but water supplies vary significantly
the regional and state plans are just that – water
from year to year and from place to place.
projects must be developed and implemented by a
Because rainfall and stream flows in the state are
local sponsor.
unpredictable, communities have traditionally relied
Region H
on reservoirs as part of water resource planning.
Region H is the designated planning group • Reservoir storage per person in the state
for our portion of the Gulf Coast and related inland has declined from a peak of 2.4 acre-feet of
areas. It consists of all or part of 15 counties, and conservation storage per person in 1980 to 1.7
spans three river and four coastal basins in southeast acre-feet today. Our population has mushroomed
Texas. Taking a “water is local” planning approach and reservoir construction has declined since the
helps balance our area’s requirements with the 1980’s. Without new reservoirs, other water
Region’s available water supply. The information management strategies will fall short of meeting
gathered by Region H planners – including local the state’s growing water needs. If no additional
population projections, water requirement trends reservoirs are constructed during the next 50
in agriculture and industry, the availability of both years, the amount of reservoir storage will further
surface and underground water supplies, and water decline…to less than 1 acre-foot per person
supply strategies -- is critical to both our area’s future, in 2060…the lowest amount since immediately
and to the state’s, as well. following the 1950’s drought of record!
In our immediate area – Harris, Fort Bend • The TWDB’s mission is to provide leadership,
and Montgomery Counties – there are some tough planning, financial assistance, information and
realities to be faced. The 2011-12 economically education for the steadfast development and
destructive and record-setting drought provided a conservation of water for Texas.
Continued on page 8
5

6. IRRIGATION 101...
Top 5 things to do if you
have an irrigation system
How often does your irrigation system come needlessly “bubbling” water up from the ground, as
on when your grass doesn’t need any water? You oil did in the TV comedy, “Beverly Hillbillies”. Unlike
keep reminding yourself to check the system con- Jed Clampett’s windfall of oil money, you’ll be the
troller, but it just never seems to get done. “It’s not one paying for all that wasted water!
hurting the grass,” you think, “so what’s the harm?” What are some signs of an irrigation system
Besides the obvious answer that it’s wasting water leak? How about water running off your yard and into
and money, too much water actually does harm your the street if a pipe is completely broken? Or maybe
lawn. Overwatering encourages turf to grow shallow an area of your yard is staying wetter than any other
roots which cause the grass to stress if water isn’t spot, even if your controller is turned off? Perhaps
available. And, if your irrigation system is still on dur- your faucets have low pressure when your irrigation
ing winter months, add the fact that native grasses system is running? A typical residential 5/8” or
like St. Augustine are DORMANT during that time 3/4” water meter will flow about 13 gallons of water
of year, and need no more water than Mother Nature per minute. Imagine a broken pipe leaking all day
provides. while you are away from home. After 8 hours, there
It might be true that everything is bigger in could be 6,240 gallons of water wasted down the
Texas…but that doesn’t have to include your water drain. Since your system may be running while you
bill! Recent reports based on actual irrigation system are asleep or away from home, the problems may
evaluations in Montgomery, Harris and Ft. Bend have gone unobserved. And, unfortunately, when
counties has demonstrated that at least 90 percent your system is underground it is difficult to find leaks
of residents who have irrigation systems water too until they appear. So, if you see these potential
often...and 43 percent of that water runs off into the problem areas don’t delay in scheduling a professional
gutter and ultimately into the storm drain. audit/evaluation of your system, and then repair any
There are a number of things that you can pipe leaks or broken, leaky heads that are confirmed.
do to maximize the use of your irrigation system and 2. Timing is EVERYTHING!
avoid wasting water and your money. One thing you In addition to adopting a water-efficient
might consider is to adopt a “conservative” watering watering schedule, set the system controller to
cycle...using your house number, water no more than complete the watering cycle before 4:00 am to avoid
twice a week on an odd/even schedule. You might the peak demand of water for other household uses
choose Saturday and Wednesday for odd numbers – like family showers, kitchen chores, and the use of
and Sunday and Thursday for even numbers. But, laundry appliances. This early morning program also
skip a day if your grass doesn’t need watering – even prevents excessive evaporation that occurs in strong
if it is a “watering” day. sunlight, and is a great time for a technique called
Here are some of the most important things “Cycle and Soak”. This method applies water
you can to do make the best, most water-efficient use slowly so the soil actually can absorb it. Each lawn has
of your irrigation system: different components – soil quality and content -- but
1. Irrigation System Leaks the key here is to water only as long as it takes to get
You might have heard folks saying that the moisture down into the soil, and that could be as little
black gold of tomorrow may very well be blue…water. as 10 minutes or as many as 20 depending on the
As the price of this precious commodity continues to soil. It will take at least 30 minutes for the water to
go up, it is important that your irrigation system is not percolate into the soil, so wait an hour to schedule the
6

7. next cycle. Do a test run; turn on a zone to discover watering your lawn is like running a marathon. You
at what length of time water is no longer soaking need to train the roots to grow or “run” deeper into
into the soil, and begins to run off. Use that amount the soil. If you water every day, the roots will stay near
of time to set the first programmed “cycle”. Set the the surface where the water is. There is no reason
timer to come on again after an hour, to deliver a for them to grow deeper or run longer. By skipping
similar amount of water. Technically, while you may days between watering periods, the roots will begin
be watering more often, the system is delivering the to grow deeper to reach more water. Nutrients are
same amount of water...only it is being utilized more important for the plants as well. Aerate the soil to
efficiently! provide oxygen, and add compost for nutrition.
3. Hydrozone your Yard... The deeper the roots grow, the longer your
When it comes to water, shrub areas need a grass can go between waterings. Even during the
different amount than the turf areas. Shrubs or turf dog days of the summer, your grass should be able
exposed to afternoon sun need more water than to easily go three to four days without needing water.
those protected by the shade. Yet when it comes to If the roots are deep enough, you can water as little
watering their yard, most people water everything the as once a week.
same. We tend to put the same amount of water on 5. The Effects of Pressure on Irrigation
the turf as we do on the flower beds. Systems
Separating different plant materials with Most of us experience the effects of pressure
different exposures so they may be watered from time to time -- at home, on the job, even on the
independent of one another is called hydrozoning. playing field. And just like people, irrigation systems
Since January of 2009, the rules of the Texas do not perform well when the pressure is too high.
Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Most spray systems operate best with 30 pounds of
require all new irrigation systems to be hydrozoned. pressure per square inch (psi) at the nozzle.
Applying only the amount of water required by the According to the Rain Bird Corporation, for
plant material versus watering everything the same every five pounds of pressure over the recommended
can save up to 21,300 gallons of water annually on operating pressure at the nozzle, your system will
a typical residential lot. waste 6 percent to 8 percent of the irrigation water.
4. Overspray – WHAT A WASTE! It is very common for a spray system to operate
The TCEQ rules between 40 psi and 50 psi at the nozzle. This
governing irrigation in Texas excessive pressure results in a waste of 16 percent to
do not allow spraying water 29 percent of the water delivered through the system.
over impervious surfaces such For a typical residential irrigation system, this waste
as walls, fences, sidewalks, and will be equivalent to 28,990 gallons to 52,500 gallons
streets. The reason for this rule of water annually. This can usually be remedied by
is simple – it just wastes water. adding some type of pressure regulation to your
It may cost more to design and system. Consider having your irrigation system
install a system that does not evaluated by a Licensed Irrigator to determine how
spray onto these surfaces, but in the long run, having you can conserve water wasted due to high pressure
an efficient irrigation system that conserves our most at the nozzle.
precious natural resource is worth it. Remember, when all is said and done…
Here’s an example: if your sprinkler system irrigation systems don’t waste water – people do.
(set to apply one inch of water) throws water over Pass Irrigation 101 with flying colors! Get acquainted
the sidewalks during that cycle, it will waste around with – and take control of – your irrigation system
220 gallons of water on your sidewalks. This water controller. Check the system regularly for leaks,
will run down the concrete and into the gutter, or it broken heads, and tell-tale signs of overspray on
will run off into the soil where it will over-water the sidewalks, fences, or the street. Here’s a case where
area and deep-percolate below the plant root zone ignorance is most definitely NOT bliss…what you
where it is no longer useful. Either way, it is a waste don’t know about your irrigation system (how and
of valuable water resources. when it works) can cost you money and waste valuable
Another important point to consider is that water resources. 
7

8. WATER PLANNING, Continued from page 5 agement strategies is estimated to be $53 billion. This
stark wake-up call, revealing our vulnerability to includes conservation, drought management, new
extended dry periods and delivering a sobering reservoirs, water reuse, and the introduction of new
message: simply stated, looking ahead, we may not water treatment options like desalination plants. To ac-
have adequate water resources to meet the needs of complish this, municipal water suppliers are expected
our residents. to need nearly $27 billion in state financial assistance.
In compliance with regulatory agencies’ It is anticipated that water supply issues will
mandates to convert hundreds of water districts from be assigned high priority during the 83rd Texas
reliance on groundwater to surface water, water Legislative Session. Representative Allan Ritter (R-
authorities in our region are collaborating with the City Nederland), Chair of the House Natural Resources
of Houston to construct the Luce Bayou Project. Committee, has filed two important bills. House Bills
The project will eventually bring some 400 million 4 and 11 call for a one-time transfer of $2 billion from
gallons per day from the Trinity River into the City of the state’s “rainy day fund” (Economic Stabilization
Houston’s Northeast Water Purification Plant at Lake Fund) to capitalize a new, dedicated revolving fund
Houston, where it will be treated and delivered across to help pay for water-related infrastructure. On the
the region. Driving this project is the exceptional Senate side, Sen. Troy Fraser, chairman of the Senate
population growth experienced in our area. Committee on Natural Resources, has introduced Sen-
Even with aggressive water conservation ate Bill 22 that, among other provisions, also calls for
measures, a number of the groundwater wells in the much needed $2 billion funding. This is significant
the area have reached the end of their useful lives, in that passage of such legislation would enable the
aquifers are being depleted, and the area is already state to fund its long-range state water plan, and it
experiencing both water quality and water quantity also lays the groundwork for the fund’s management
issues. This makes the Luce Bayou Project a critical and operation.
element of the State Water Plan for the multi-county The launching pad for this program is a Texas
region. Water Development Bond Amendment (Prop 2),
The local water authorities do not have Ad which gained voter approval during the November 8,
Valorem taxing power; so construction projects are 2011 general election. This amendment allows the
paid for by pumpage fees applied to wells within TWDB to authorize bonds on an ongoing basis so long
their boundaries, surface water sales and the revenue as the dollar amount of bonds outstanding at any one
bonds supported by those sources. This makes the time does not exceed $6 billion. These Prop 2 bonds
financing programs available through the Texas Water are self-supporting (i.e., paid for through usage and
Development Board (TWDB) so essential to help with impact fees). They do not depend on or utilize
engineering and environmental studies, right of way general revenues.
acquisition, and other preparation for construction. Making the tough decisions...
The TWDB has funded a substantial amount of Invariably, time and adequate rainfall have a
the Luce Bayou Project costs, and the Luce Bayou way of dulling our senses to the obvious. However,
“partners” intend to seek additional state funds to help Mother Nature, like all moms, is relentless in reminding
pay for the project. If Luce Bayou is NOT completed us of the consequences of indolence. And she’s
on time, there will be ripple effects across the multi- reminding us now. With just a handful of reservoirs
county area, impacting economic growth and the in some stage of planning or development – with
future conversion to surface water. plenty of opposition lined up to delay or defeat their
Recommendations... construction -- the state only has 188 major water
The sixteen regional planning groups recom- supply reservoirs to rely on. More are needed.
mended 562 unique water supply projects to meet The state’s 1961 planning effort to meet
the State’s projected needs for additional water sup- water requirements in 1980 included some insightful
plies. If implemented, these projects would result in advice: “If Texans cannot change the weather,
an additional 9 million acre-feet per year by 2060 to they can at least, through sound, farsighted
meet the anticipated 8.3 million acre-feet planning, conserve and develop water
shortfall. The capital cost to design, construct new resources to supply their needs.” Sound advice
projects, or implement the recommended water man- indeed. 
8

9. Harvesting the Rain
Right from Your Roof
Collecting rainwater for your garden is a smart idea; plants
like rainwater, because it’s naturally soft, and free of chemicals.
If the area is hit with another drought, collecting rainwater is a
good way to deal with watering restrictions. You may also find that
having a rain barrel is a handy alternative to the garden hose when
it comes to watering container plants -- in hanging baskets or pots.
It’s surprising how much water can be collected every time
it rains. Just a half inch of rain falling on a 1,000-square-foot roof
will yield 300 gallons of water! To get a quick idea how much
water the roof of your own house might yield, here’s an example.
For a modest-sized house, say 30 x 36 ft., with a typical 2 ft. roof
overhang, a half inch of rain would yield about 408 gallons of
water. That’s enough to fill six standard-size rain barrels.
Try it yourself!
It used to be a lot more difficult to find good quality rain
barrels, and that meant relying on internet ‘shops’ with pricey
shipping costs. Today, however, just about every garden and home improvement store has a selection of
the handy containers at reasonable prices.
Here’s what you need to set up your own rain harvesting system:
1. Gutters and a Downspout. If you don’t already have rain gutters on your house, this one-time
investment will likely be the biggest related cost. High quality gutters can be rather expensive, but even
the least-expensive gutter system will suffice.
2. Rain Barrel. Select a rainwater container. They are usually made of heavy duty plastic and they come
in several colors (e.g., dark green, gray or terra cotta) and can hold various amounts of water. If you want
to start small and keep it simple, consider a rain barrel with a water capacity of 40 to 80 gallons of water.
If you have the space, several barrels can be set up in tandem. Prices vary, but most quality barrels are
about $100-$150 each.
3. Debris Screen and Lid. A “downspout diverter” makes it easy to direct rainwater right into the storage
tank. (Check local home improvement stores or the internet for these.) But before the water goes into the
rain barrel, it is important to use some kind of debris screen to filter out leaves, pine needles and other
debris. If the debris isn’t filtered out, it will accumulate at the bottom of the
tank and may clog up the outflow. A removable wire mesh screen is all that is
really needed, either mounted on top of the rain barrel or attached to the end
of the downspout. A well-fitting lid is also important for safety (to keep pets
and children out), and to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in the water.
4. Distribution Device. For a rain barrel, all that’s needed is a standard
spigot or short length of hose installed near the bottom of the barrel, with an
on/off valve. Then let gravity do the work. A longer hose can be attached
to reach your garden, or just use the rain barrel’s spigot to fill watering cans.
A downspout diverter, (see example, right), a popular British
device that has been adapted to fit American drainspouts, comes in handy
when it is difficult to place the rain barrel directly in front of one.
If your primary motivation is to collect rainwater for your garden, you
don’t need to worry about capturing every inch of rain that falls on your roof. But consider this: If you get
about 10-inches of rain over the course of the spring and summer, an average, 1,360-square-foot roof
would yield 8,160 gallons of rain water. You have to admit that whether you’re in a drought situation or
not, it’s hard to pass up that much of a free thing! 
9

10. TOO MUCH...OR TOO LITTLE...
RAINFALL CAN BE A PROBLEM!
One of the key lessons we learned during this past year
of drought is that clean water is important to all of us; for our
health and well-being, and to sustain a healthy economy, too.
Not only does it supply a habitat for marine life, but clean
water provides recreational opportunities, drinking water for
our homes, businesses and manufacturing, and even provides
the means to generate electricity. We also learned that old Ben
Franklin was right when he warned that we wouldn’t “know
the worth of water until the well ran dry.” During this past year
when it didn’t rain, we stopped taking an adequate supply of
clean water for granted, and we paid more attention to things
that impact our water resources.
Trouble in the streets...
What do motor oil, lawn fertilizers, cigarette butts,
grass clippings and pet waste all have in common? They all
contribute to what the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) warns is the number one threat to our drinking water
supplies... Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPSP). Today, the
primary source of oil pollution in North America’s coastal
waters isn’t leaking oil tankers or oil rigs, but can be tracked
back to countless oil leaks from the more than 235 million cars
currently on the road. Drip, drop...cars make daily oil deposits
on roadways, parking lots and driveways and neighborhood
streets. When it rains, stormwater falls on hard surfaces like
roads, roofs, driveways and parking lots. Since it cannot seep
into the ground, it runs off to lower areas, carrying with it globs
and sheens of oil from paved surfaces into the storm drains...
on to creeks and streams...then into bays and estuaries...and
finally into the Gulf of Mexico.
Addressing a serious problem...
Here are some more statistics about this sneaky kind
of water pollution that might surprise you. Illegal dumping of
chemicals and toxic waste accounts for less than ten percent of
it. Forty percent of water pollution originates with automotive
fluids washing off paved surfaces from normal rainfall and
cleaning activities.
Twenty five years ago, most of the “point-source”
pollution -- the kind where the source was easily identified
-- was virtually eliminated when industries and wastewater
treatment facilities cleaned up their discharge to public waters
to comply with the Clean Water Act or face crippling fines.
Making informed choices...
So, what can be done to help arrest this growing threat
10

11. to our water supplies? Actually, quite a bit...and eventually into nearby streams and lakes.
some of the measures help solve more than one The bigger picture...
problem and are aesthetically pleasing, as well! Two thirds of the impervious surfaces in
Perhaps the most important thing we can do is to developed communities are in the form of pavement
learn about NPSP and do whatever we can to stop related to automobile usage, so any design or
it. This is not as difficult as one might assume and redevelopment options that reduce impervious
one simple ‘message’ sums it up: ONLY RAIN IN pavement is a positive step toward improving
THE DRAIN! What goes into the storm drains ends water quality. Pervious options allow percolation or
up -- untreated -- in our lakes, rivers and streams. infiltration of stormwater through the surface into
So, good common sense dictates that we recycle or the soil below where the water is naturally filtered
properly dispose of household products that contain and pollutants are removed.
chemicals, as well as insecticides, pesticides, paint, Substituting pervious pavements for
solvents, and -- most especially -- used motor oil. driveways, low-traffic roads, parking areas, sidewalks,
Another persistent problem is the improper and residential pool decks and patios can make a
disposal of pet waste. Americans own 75 million significant difference in reducing stormwater runoff;
dogs and sadly, an estimated 40 percent of pet replenishing groundwater; reducing flooding; and
owners don’t clean up their dogs’ “deposits” at reducing thermal pollution — the heat given off by
home or when they are out for a walk. Thanks pavement baking in the sun. Because of their open
to major public information campaigns about structure, the pervious alternatives offer a “cooler”
the impact of ‘pet poop’ on local steams and pavement choice. By replenishing water tables
waterways, people are getting the message from and aquifers rather than forcing rainfall into storm
homeowner associations and parks that if their dog sewers, the pervious choice can also help reduce
makes a deposit in a public place, the owner has a demands on storm sewer systems.
responsibility to scoop the poop and deposit it in When it rains...it’s porous!
the trash or in receptacles provided. The technology is really quite simple. The
secret to the success of pervious pavements is to
provide the water with a place to go, often in the
form of an underlying open-graded stone bed. As
the water drains through the porous surface and into
the stone bed, it slowly seeps into the soil. While
these special features are generally more expensive
than conventional impervious surface construction,
the costs are more than offset by the ability to
eliminate many elements of a standard stormwater
management system.
They say that “necessity is the mother of
invention”. As water becomes more expensive,
There is growing interest in residential options like installing porous pavements will prove
“sustainable infrastructure techniques”. These to be more affordable and an important component
techniques involve substituting alternatives to in sustainable water management strategies. 
areas traditionally covered by nonporous surfaces.
Grasses and natural ground cover, for example,
can be attractive and practical substitutes for paved
driveways, walkways, and patios.
Consider constructing wooden decks, gravel
or brick paths, and rock gardens to keep the natural
ground cover intact and allow rainwater to slowly
seep into the ground. This acts as a natural filtering
process and reduces harmful water quality impact
from rainfall that carries chemicals and pollutants
with it into storm sewers and retention ponds, and
11

12. www.nfbwa.com
c/o Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP
3200 Southwest Freeway, Suite 2600
Houston, Texas 77027
Take the 10 Gallon Water Conservation Challenge!
Make a commitment to use water more efficiently!
Water plays an important role in our lives...in fact, no living thing
can survive without it! We can all learn to use water wisely.
If each of us used just 10 gallons less each day, think of how much
water we could save by the end of a week! or a month! or a year!
It is amazing how fast the savings will add up!
 Take shorter showers = 4-5 gallons per minute
 ell an adult about a leaky faucet or “running”
T
toilet = repair will save 5 to 200 gallons a day
Things to do...  se a broom instead of a water hose to
U
1. ncourage your school
E clean the driveway and sidewalks = 9 gallons per minute
to Proclaim a Water  sk an adult to adjust the irrigation system
A
Conservation month. controller to water a maximum of twice a week – can save
2. ave a slogan contest and
H up to 40 percent of the water used for this purpose. Turn
make posters to put up system OFF during winter months – October – February
around the school.  nly run the dishwasher with a full load =
O
3. alculate how much water
C 12 gallons per load
your class/school can save  ait for a full load before running the washing
W
in a week, month, year. machine = up to 43 gallons per load
4. reate a calendar
C  urn off the faucet while brushing teeth =
T
from students’ water 4 gallons per minute.
conservation drawings. See how easy it will be to save 10 gallons a day!
Source: www.SaveWaterTexas.com
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