Our recent rains have been helpful, but they're still not enough. In Amarillo, we're actually using more water than we did last year.
The numbers from June 2009 and June 2010 show that on average, we're using more than 10.5 million gallons more each day. The Ogallala Aquifer has been steadily dropping.
We use on average 1.5 feet per year, but the amount that goes in from run-off and rain is only two to three inches.
That's why Amarillo's Conservation Committee is promoting "Every Drop Counts," to educate the community about water use.
"If you have a leaky faucet dropping one drip per second in a year, that's 2,700 gallons. A lot of people don't realize that. That costs the average customer in the neighborhood of eight or nine dollars just for a leaky faucet/a drippy faucet; and ah, a leaky commode, oh my goodness, it can add up to hundreds of gallons of water, literally!" said Emmett Autrey, the Dir. of Utilities for the City of Amarillo.
If you want to save money and water, the city is offering a rebate for rain and freeze sensors. Those shut off your sprinklers when it rains or during freezing weather.
The city gives rebate up to $50 dollars, just about what they cost.
