LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Protecting our precious water resource is very important to our community and to Lackland's missions. Never before has the need for water conservation been more apparent. Here in South Texas, our springs, rivers and lakes have diminished and we have felt the crunch of parched grass beneath our feet.
Lackland is committed to doing its part to conserve water. Lackland's latest efforts involved teaming up with the San Antonio Water System to make our facilities and installation more water efficient. The base participated in SAWS' award-winning retrofit program to replace old water wasting toilets, shower heads and aerators with efficient ones.
In this program, SAWS provides top quality efficient fixtures at no cost. There is also no cost to have them installed and the old fixtures removed.
SAWS and the 37th Civil Engineer Squadron have completed the retrofits in the Air Force Lease Back facilities, the 149th Fighter Wing and the 433rd Airlift Wing facilities. In these areas, the facilities' water service has been privatized; SAWS is now the water provider.
Lackland installed a total of 315 toilets, changed 350 shower heads and 500 aerators. The anticipated water savings is approximately 11,846,735 gallons per year. Energy savings will also be realized as the efficient shower heads reduce the hot water usage.
Lackland's goal is to retrofit every inefficient water fixture on the installation. The 37th CES is auditing the base water systems and identifying waste.
Upgrading the water system and repairing leaks is a priority. The base is increasing its use of recycled water for irrigation and researching the use of recycled water for more cooling towers. The result will be saving millions of gallons of potable water.
The 37th CES asks Team Lackland to do their part in conserving water. For more information on how to help save water, visit
http://www.saws.org/conservation.
To share ideas for water conservation on Lackland, contact the base resource efficiency manager at 671-7221. Report water waste on base to the water conservation hotline at 671-7283 or e-mail
37ces.cevwqp@lackland.af.mil.