Protecting and Conserving
Texas’ Vital Water Resources
Economic Impact Series
Water Use Efficiency and Quality
 Population growth, increasing water demand,
contamination issues and drought have placed the state’s
water supply under tremendous stress.
 Water demand in Texas is projected to increase by 22
percent from 2010 to 2060.
 Protecting water resources and utilizing conservation
practices will be essential to sustain the state’s water
supply-and-demand balance.
AgriLife Extension’s Response
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service delivers a wide
range of programs focused on research-based water
conservation and quality practices, watershed protection,
onsite wastewater treatment systems, private water well
screening and soil nutrient management.
 These programs teach participants about efficient water
use, sustainable practices, watershed management and
environmental stewardship.
 AgriLife Extension’s conservation programs focus on
reducing household water use and improving irrigation
efficiencies in lawns, landscapes and agricultural
production systems.
 In 2013, Extension developed the Water Education
Network website at http://water.tamu.edu to serve as a
front door to water educational resources.
 Urban water issues are being addressed through the
Texas Water Star umbrella which includes high
recognition water use efficiency efforts such as
EarthKind landscaping and strategies aimed at in-home
water savings.
 Through 1,900 educational events, planning meetings
and workshops in 2013, AgriLife Extension reached
more than 104,000 educational contacts (producers,
residents and landowners) to increase public awareness
and adoption of practices that are vital to improving and
Extending Knowledge | Providing Solutions
AgriLifeExtension.tamu.edu
sustaining the state’s water supply-and-demand
balance.
Economic and Environmental Impact
The benefits of these programs are measured in terms of
water saved, water cost savings, number of jobs and
annual wages for trainees in the landscape-irrigation
profession, and externally-funded grant dollars received
and spent locally to implement watershed-protection and
educational programs.
 Water-conservation programs have resulted in a
potential savings of 1.1 billion gallons annually,
valued at $3.9 million (using municipal water rates).
 Programs that provide certification in landscape
irrigation directly support 1,072 jobs with $24.7
million in annual wages.
 Water quality restoration efforts in the Attoyac,
Copano Bay, Buck, Mills Creek, Geronimo and
Alligator Creek watersheds, and in the Pecos, Trinity
and Arroyo-Colorado river watersheds follow the
Plum Creek Watershed model. In 2011, it became the
state’s first watershed to be removed from the EPA’s
list of impaired water bodies.
 To leverage state resources, $7.6 million in
externally-funded grants have been obtained to
support critical water-quality protection activities,
identify sources of watershed contamination,
education, and 33 jobs.
 Efficient use of nutrients has reduced potential
fertilizer application by over 9.2 million pounds,
increasing net returns to producers by $5.5 million.
 Furthermore, the ultimate societal benefit to Texas
is protection and more efficient use of scarce water
resources.
Contact:
Douglas L. Steele, Director
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
ph. 979.845.7967
e-mail: dsteele@tamu.edu
agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/impacts
MKT-3558BH I 2014
Educational programs of Texas A&M University System members are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information,
or veteran status. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating