Comal Trinity Groundwater Conservation District
Mail: PO Box 664, Spring Branch, TX 78070
Physical: 9850 FM 311, Spring Branch, TX 78070
Phone 830.885.2130
email: Admin@ComalTrinityGCD.com
Mission:
Maintain the hill country way of life by conserving, protecting, and preserving our Trinity groundwater resources.
Texas 4-H Water Ambassadors Program
This application period is from March 15th through May 1st. Click here for details.
CONSERVATION
Little is more critical to our future water needs as conservation. This page offers an exciting assortment of conservation tricks, techniques, and fun information for you to browse.
What’s your water footprint? When it comes to your water use, do you tread lightly or are you an H2O Hog? How much water do you think you consume every day? You might initially consider the length of your daily shower, the time of day you run your sprinkler system, and how long the water runs while you brush your teeth. Conservation in such everyday tasks is important, but water experts have begun to use a more all-encompassing survey of water use by calculating “water footprints” Story by Leslie Jordan for single individuals, households, and even entire corporations or countries. Because almost every daily activity can be traced back to water, your own actions are only part of your water footprint. A water footprint is the amount of water you directly or indirectly consume. This includes “virtual water”—the amount of water needed to produce everyday things such as food, clothing, and energy. To assess your water footprint click the link or enter this URL:
http://www.bluebonnetgroundwater.org/docs/Water-Footprint-tx-h2o-%20Fall-2009.pdf
Water IQ is a public awareness water conservation program to educate Texans about their water resources. The program can help deliver a clear, unified water conservation message to the state. To determine your water IQ click the link or enter this URL:
Efficient water use in, and, around your home. We must use our precious water resources more efficiently or we will have more frequent and more severe water shortages, especially during droughts and periods of peak demand (like hot Texas summers). Using water more efficiently will not only save money, but more importantly, will protect the quality of life of future generations. To view the top smart water tips click the link or click here.
Are you using more water than you thought? Take a look at your bill. The average daily water use in our District is about 185 gallons per person per day. You'd be surprised at how much water you are using and money you can save by following conservation tips. To view the top smart water tips click the link or click here.
Efficient Use of Water in the Garden and Landscape
Keeping your lawn alive in drought conditions can be challenging. Drought conditions can be hard on Texas lawns but they don't have to be fatal. Proper watering techniques can help keep your lawn alive to thrive for another year. Infrequent but deep waterings can "train" your lawn to be drought tolerate. By watering deeper and less often, your lawn will establish deeper roots. Deep roots tolerate drought better and require less water than shallow roots. For tips on watering during drought conditions click the link or enter this URL:
http://www.brazos.org/Watering_Drought.asp
How to Efficiently Water Your Lawn
For many, a lush, green lawn is a symbol of proud homeownership as well as a pleasant place on which to relax or play. Lawns, however, require a lot of water--water which, depending where you live, may be in short supply. The linked article discusses some strategies you can use right now to reduce your water use and keep your existing grass healthy. To learn about other options to make your lawn more environmentally friendly, or to discover sustainable alternatives to lawns, please explore other Comal Trinity GCD links and articles. To view tips on how to efficiently water your lawn click the link or click here.
Be aware of and follow all of the Comal Trinity GCD water conservation and water shortage rules in effect. Don't assume, even if you get your water from a private well, that you need not observe good water use rules. Every drop counts. Report significant water losses (broken pipes, open hydrants, errant sprinklers, abandoned free-flowing wells, etc.) to the property owner, local authorities or to us using this Contact Link. Support our efforts and programs that create a concern for water conservation among tourists and visitors to Comal County. Encourage your friends, neighbors, and coworkers to "do their part". Conserve water because it is the right thing to do. To view our water saving tips click the link or click here.
NRCS Water Conservation Tip Sheet
Save water with efficient systems and healthy plants in your backyard. Wise use of water for garden and lawn waterings not only helps protect the environment, but saves money and provides for optimum growing conditions. Simple ways of reducing the amount of water used for irrigation include growing xeriphytic species (plants that are adapted to dry conditions), mulching, adding water retaining organic matter to the soil, installing windbreaks and fences to slow winds and reduce evapotranspiratio, watering in the early morning before the sun is intense helps reduce the water lost from evaporation, and installing rain gutters and collecting water from downspouts also helps reduce water use. To view these NRCS water saving tips click the link or click here.
Are you prepared for the hot, dry summer months that lie ahead? Now is the time to implement a variety of steps to help ensure landscape performance while conserving, preserving, and protecting our valuable natural resources. Earth-Kind has compiled some of our most useful educational information pieces and links to help you prepare – just in case we face another dry year. In addition, we hope you will take a few minutes to review the series of educational videos on the Earth-Kind site, focusing on landscape water conservation and quality. For many, many tips on drought preparedness click the link or enter this URL:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/drought/
Conserving water in your home is simple. Most homes use a large amount of water in each of four areas: the bathrooms, the kitchen, the laundry room and outdoors. Making a few small changes can have a big impact on the amount of water available during a drought and the amount of money left in your pocket after the arrival of your water bill. In this link you'll find tips for the kitchen, laundry, bathroom, and other areas of your home. For conserving at home tips click the link or enter this URL:
http://www.brazos.org/Water_Conserv_Home.asp
Efficient Use of Water in the Garden and Landscape
How to Efficiently Water Your Lawn
NRCS Water Conservation Tip Sheet
Threats To Our Aquifer:
The Trinity Aquifer has a unique geological formation. Unlike the nearby Edwards Aquifer, which is composed of limestone and confined to a geographically limited area, the Trinity Aquifer extends from Central Texas north to the Texas/Oklahoma border. It is composed of several smaller aquifers contained within the Trinity Group, including the Glen Rose, Hosston, and Cow Creek formations. These aquifers consist of limestones, sands, clays, gravels, and conglomerates. Per the Texas Water Development Board, their combined freshwater saturated thickness averages about 600 feet in North Texas and about 1,900 feet in Central Texas. The Trinity Aquifer recharges much more slowly than the Edwards Aquifer and water contained within the aquifer moves through the formations at a much much slower rate as well. Today, there are serious threats to the Trinity Aquifer. As cities like San Antonio grow and need more water, the pressures on aquifers throughout the state grow. An increase in the number of "straws" into the aquifer can result in declines in water levels as pumping exceeds recharge. This impacts everyone.