Texas faces a growing water crisis. With the state’s population swelling and climate patterns shifting, communities across the Lone Star State must take decisive action to protect their most precious resource. For residents of Azle, Texas, this reality hits close to home as the city implements comprehensive conservation measures to secure water supplies for future generations.
The numbers tell a stark story. Texas population growth continues to outpace water supply development, while traditional sources become increasingly expensive and difficult to tap. In Azle, where Eagle Mountain Lake serves as the primary water source, city officials recognize that conservation isn’t just smart policy—it’s essential for community survival.
This guide explores practical water-saving strategies every Azle resident can implement today, plus details about the city’s 2025 conservation plan designed to reduce consumption, minimize waste, and extend current water supplies. Whether you’re looking to lower your monthly bill or contribute to community-wide sustainability efforts, these proven techniques will help you make every drop count.
Azle’s water story mirrors challenges facing communities throughout North Central Texas. The city draws raw water from Eagle Mountain Lake through the Tarrant Regional Water District, treating up to 6 million gallons daily at its Lakeview Drive facility. With a current population of approximately 14,300 residents served by over 6,300 connections, demand continues climbing.
Recent data shows Azle residents use an average of 132 gallons per capita per day—a figure that fluctuates based on seasonal needs and weather patterns. During peak summer months, outdoor irrigation can spike usage dramatically, straining both supply systems and household budgets.
The city’s conservation goals target maintaining current per capita usage levels while accommodating population growth projected to reach 19,281 by 2050. This balancing act requires both individual action and systematic improvements to infrastructure and policies.
Your bathroom and kitchen offer the greatest potential for indoor water savings. Modern low-flow fixtures can reduce consumption without sacrificing performance or comfort.
Showerheads: Replace standard models with low-flow versions that use 2.5 gallons per minute or less. Quality low-flow showerheads maintain water pressure through innovative design features like aerating chambers and flow restrictors.
Faucets: Kitchen and bathroom faucets should flow at 2.2 gallons per minute maximum. Look for WaterSense-labeled products that meet EPA efficiency criteria.
Toilets: Older toilets can use 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush. New high-efficiency models use 1.28 gallons or less while maintaining effective waste removal.
A single dripping faucet wastes over 3,000 gallons annually. Toilet leaks prove even more costly, potentially wasting 200 gallons daily. Regular maintenance prevents minor issues from becoming major water drains.
Check for leaks monthly by:
Small behavior changes create significant savings:
Outdoor irrigation typically accounts for 30-50% of residential water use in Texas. Smart landscaping and watering practices offer tremendous conservation potential.
Timing Matters: Water early morning (6-10 AM) or evening (6-10 PM) to minimize evaporation. Avoid midday watering when heat causes rapid moisture loss.
Check Soil Moisture: Stick a screwdriver into your lawn. If it penetrates easily to 6 inches, watering isn’t needed. This simple test prevents overwatering that wastes water and damages grass roots.
Deep, Infrequent Watering: Apply 1 inch of water weekly through longer, less frequent sessions. This encourages deep root growth and improves drought tolerance.
Native Texas plants evolved to thrive in local climate conditions, requiring minimal supplemental watering once established. Consider these water-wise options:
Grasses: Buffalo grass, blue grama, and curly mesquite grass
Shrubs: Cenizo (Texas sage), rosemary, and native sumac
Flowers: Blanket flower, black-eyed Susan, and lantana
Trees: Live oak, mesquite, and redbud
Sprinkler Maintenance: Replace broken heads, adjust spray patterns, and ensure systems target planted areas rather than pavement.
Smart Controllers: Install weather-based irrigation controllers that adjust watering schedules based on rainfall, temperature, and soil moisture.
Drip Irrigation: Use drip systems for flower beds, vegetable gardens, and individual trees. These deliver water directly to root zones with minimal evaporation.
The City of Azle has developed a comprehensive conservation strategy addressing both immediate needs and long-term sustainability goals. This plan includes voluntary guidelines, public education initiatives, and infrastructure improvements.
Currently, Azle operates under voluntary Stage 1 restrictions encouraging responsible water use:
Outdoor Watering: Hand-held watering (hoses, buckets, watering cans) permitted anytime. Sprinkler systems may operate but should avoid waste through proper maintenance and timing.
Prohibited Activities:
Vehicle Washing: Limited to hand-held hoses with shut-off nozzles or commercial car wash facilities.
The city invests significantly in system efficiency through:
Meter Replacement Program: Azle replaces water meters on a 15-year cycle, prioritizing oldest units first. Accurate meters ensure proper billing and help identify unusual usage patterns indicating leaks.
Leak Detection and Repair: Annual water audits identify system losses, with crews responding to reported leaks within 24 hours. The city maintains water loss below 5 gallons per capita per day through proactive maintenance.
Pipeline Upgrades: Aging infrastructure replacement improves efficiency and reduces line losses. The city targets replacing 1-2 miles of depreciated pipeline annually.
Billing Inserts: Water conservation tips accompany utility bills twice yearly, featuring materials from city staff and organizations like the Texas Water Development Board.
Online Resources: The city website (cityofazle.org) provides conservation information, links to Texas Smartscape landscaping guides, and current restriction updates.
Community Outreach: City staff offers presentations to local schools, civic groups, and organizations about water conservation importance and techniques.
Azle employs an increasing block rate structure where water costs more as usage increases. This pricing model rewards conservation while ensuring revenue for system maintenance and improvements.
Base rates vary by meter size and customer location (inside vs. outside city limits). Volume charges start at $3.02 per 100 cubic feet for moderate usage, increasing to $4.45 for high-volume users within city limits. Outside customers pay approximately 50% more, reflecting additional infrastructure costs.
While current conditions allow voluntary conservation, Azle’s drought contingency plan includes mandatory restrictions if supply conditions worsen:
Stage 2 (Water Warning): Triggered when regional reservoir levels drop below 60% capacity. Restrictions include once-weekly landscape watering and prohibitions on non-essential uses like fountain operation.
Stage 3 (Water Emergency): Activated when reservoir levels fall below 45%. All landscape watering prohibited except hand-watering of trees and foundations. Vehicle washing limited to essential health/safety purposes.
These escalating measures ensure essential water supplies remain available for drinking, sanitation, and fire protection during severe shortage periods.
Modern water conservation benefits from technological advances making efficiency easier and more effective:
Smart Irrigation Controllers: These devices adjust watering schedules automatically based on weather data, soil conditions, and plant needs. Many models connect to WiFi for remote monitoring and control.
Rain Sensors: Mandatory for new irrigation installations in Azle, these devices prevent systems from operating during precipitation.
Leak Detection Apps: Smartphone applications help homeowners monitor usage patterns and identify potential leaks through unusual consumption spikes.
Water conservation delivers multiple community benefits beyond supply protection:
Economic Advantages: Reduced water treatment and distribution costs help keep rates affordable. Lower household usage directly reduces monthly bills for residents.
Environmental Protection: Conservation reduces stress on Eagle Mountain Lake and downstream ecosystems. Less wastewater production means reduced treatment facility loads.
Infrastructure Longevity: Lower system demand extends the useful life of pipes, pumps, and treatment equipment, deferring expensive replacement projects.
Drought Resilience: Communities with established conservation habits adapt more successfully to water restrictions during shortage periods.
Ready to begin conserving water? Start with these high-impact, low-cost steps:
Water conservation requires community-wide commitment to succeed. Every resident, business, and organization in Azle plays a crucial role in protecting this vital resource for current and future generations.
Start implementing these water-saving strategies today. Fix those nagging leaks, adjust your irrigation schedule, and consider upgrading inefficient fixtures. Share conservation tips with neighbors and encourage friends to join the effort.
Visit cityofazle.org for additional resources, current restriction updates, and conservation program information. Together, we can ensure Azle maintains adequate water supplies while accommodating growth and weathering future droughts. Your actions today help secure tomorrow’s water future—every drop truly counts.
