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Commissioners weigh joining 'Texas Runs on Water' outreach to curb outdoor use
Summary
Commissioners discussed partnering with the Texas Water Foundation on a 'Texas Runs on Water' campaign to reduce outdoor water use in Parker County; staff recommended budgeting for outreach in the October budget cycle but took no immediate funding action.
The Parker County Commissioners Court discussed a potential partnership with the Texas Water Foundation to launch a local version of the "Texas Runs on Water" campaign aimed at reducing outdoor water use.
Doug, a presenter invited by Commissioner Holt, told the court the campaign has regional variants such as "Panhandle Runs on Water" and "Houston Runs on Water" and focuses on public outreach — billboards, social media and local buy-ins — to change outdoor-use habits. "On the average two-acre lot with a private well, I would say 50 to 80 percent of the water is used outside the home," Doug said, urging education and a unified message across jurisdictions.
Commissioner Holt said timing makes the campaign appropriate for the upcoming budget cycle: "I don't know that we actually need to take any specific action on this today, but rather I think this is something that we should fold into our October 1 budget," he said. Commissioners and staff discussed tying the outreach to existing efforts, involving realtors and developers, and publicizing the county's Hydrology 2050 planning work. No appropriation was made at the meeting; staff were asked to include a line item for consideration in the fall budget process.
The court's discussion emphasized education, pricing incentives and multi-pronged conservation measures (rainwater harvesting, native/drought-tolerant landscaping, and conservation pricing). County staff said the campaign could unify messaging countywide and that precinct-level contributions could reduce the county's direct cost. Next steps: staff outreach to the foundation and budget-office inclusion for the October cycle.
