Water and Wastewater Efficiency
Stormwater Management
Retention and water treatment ponds reduce stormwater loads on City sewers.
Stormwater management treats rainwater where it falls, instead of piping
it to a central plant.
| Stormwater Management Benefits |
 |
Restores natural water flows, or “watersheds”, supporting
the natural ecology of the area surrounding a project |
|
Keeps public creeks, lakes and aquifers clean and safe for people. |
|
Reduces demand on sewer infrastructure. |
The
City of Austin’s Watershed Protection and Development Review
Department takes an active role in the design, implementation and
evaluation of stormwater
treatment systems for the citizens of Austin.
Water Efficient Landscaping
Using native Texan drought-resistant plants, which require only minimal watering
for maintenance, conserves water.
Using native plants promotes local ecology, culture,
and also saves money on maintenance and watering. Native plants are naturally
adapted to the local rain cycle, so they usually do not need extra care
to survive.
The City of Austin’s Green Garden Program combines
the resources of six City departments to provide the public information
on water-wise
landscaping practices and native plants.
Water Use Reduction
Highly efficient plumbing fixtures in this building conserve water. Toilets
use one gallon per flush, compared to typical three to five gallons per flush.
Urinals use a waterless system, compared to the typical one gallon per flush.
Toilet flushing is the largest single use of
water in residential and commercial buildings. The EPA estimates
that flushing accounts for some 4.8 billion gallons of water per day. |
