JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas –
Although two-thirds of the Earth’s surface is water and less than one percent of that water is currently available for our use, according to the Federal Energy Management Program, or FEMP.
As the U.S. population increases, so does our water use and our need to conserve water. In the City of San Antonio and its surrounding areas, water has become a valuable commodity due to the growing population.
In an effort to help conserve water from the Edwards Aquifer, Joint Base San Antonio has conscientiously been involved in the reduction of water pumped from the Edwards Aquifer by initiating water conservation efforts throughout base and utilizing effective water management technologies.
Water conservation efforts such as water efficient landscaping, waterless urinals, low-flow water fixtures, purchasing recycled water for irrigation and cooling and adhering to the JBSA Water Conservation Plan’s other best management practices has contributed to JBSA’s Water Conservation Program.
Even though the current rain fall levels are above stage restrictions at 678 feet in the San Antonio area, water usage from the Edwards Aquifer is always a hot topic.
As a federal installation, JBSA complies fully with any imposed drought restrictions and cooperates with the State of Texas and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service to insure compliance with all regulations.
Water conservation is the most cost-effective and environmentally sound way to reduce our demand for water. This stretches our supplies farther and protects and endangered species in the Edwards Aquifer.
The following are some simple water conservation tips that everyone in the JBSA community can follow to help preserve our precious water supply:
- Verify that your facility is leak-free. If you have a leaky faucet or pipe, report it to the facility manager for correction. A faucet dripping at the rate of one drop per second can waste 2,700 gallons of water per year.
- Avoid unnecessary toilet flushes. Dispose of tissues, insects and other such items in a trash receptacle rather than in the toilet.
- Take shorter showers.
- Turn off the water while shaving or washing your face. Brush your teeth while waiting for the water to get hot for face washing or shaving.
- Try to wash full loads when doing laundry and properly set the water level for the size of the load.
- Store drinking water in a refrigerator rather than letting the tap water run to get a cool drink of water.
- Report if the toilet handle sticks in the flush position.
- Don’t run the hose while washing your car. Use a bucket of water and a quick hose rinse at the end.
- Run full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher.
- Don’t water the sidewalks, driveway, or gutter. Adjust your sprinklers so that water lands on your lawn or garden where it belongs.
For more information about energy conservation, call the JBSA Base Energy Managers at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston at 210-671-1537 or at JBSA-Randolph and JBSA-Lackland at 210-671-0252.