To meet current needs while planning for a more sustainable future, the city has implemented its Water Forward plan, a 100-year strategy aimed at reducing per-person water use and building a more resilient water supply.
At the forefront of this plan is the My ATX Water portal, helping Austinites conserve water one drop at a time.
What is My ATX Water?
Over the last several years, approximately 250,000 analog meters were replaced with smart meters, giving residents access to near real-time water use data through the My ATX Water portal.
One of the portal’s most powerful features is leak detection. If water is running continuously, often a sign of a hidden problem, the portal automatically alerts users so they can investigate.
“In May, there was an estimated 69 million gallons of water saved through leak alerts,” said Scott Sticker, a lead on the My ATX Water program. “Over the course of this [leak detection system] existing, hundreds of millions of gallons have potentially been saved.”
The portal also helps residents avoid billing surprises by offering insights into usage before bills arrive.
“Customers can see their water use before their bill comes,” program manager Ginny Barrett Guerrero said. “It gives our customers a way to manage their water use and troubleshoot before it hits their pockets.”
In addition to helping with conservation and costs, My ATX Water gives the city a direct line of communication during emergencies. Whether there’s a planned shut-off, low water pressure or nearby construction, Austin Water can notify affected residents directly through the portal.
“If there is an emergency in the city, we can let [customers] know. If there's a localized issue and folks are going to have low water pressure, or if there's construction in an area and water might need to be shut off for a couple of hours, we can message folks directly to help them plan,” Sticker said.
How to save money while saving water
Now is the perfect time to plan sustainable upgrades for fall. While some rebates pause during the hottest part of summer, residents are encouraged to get preapprovals and prepare to plant when temperatures cool.
Here are several available rebate programs:
- Irrigation upgrade rebate: offers incentives for upgrading irrigation systems to more water-efficient models
- WaterWise landscaping rebate: encourages replacing turf with native plants and drought-resistant landscaping
- Rainscape rebate: supports installation of landscaping that captures and uses rainwater efficiently
- Rainwater harvesting rebate: offers up to $5,000 per site based on storage capacity; systems over 500 gallons require preapproval
- Pool cover rebate: helps pool owners reduce evaporation by offering rebates for pool covers
Collective action for a sustainable future
Throughout the summer months, outdoor irrigation is one of the leading causes of increased water use. To manage demand, the city enforces a once-per-week watering schedule.
“Everyone's able to water once a week depending on their address,” Sticker said. “That's one of the biggest ways the community can help slow down water usage.”
Austin’s water challenges aren’t going away, but with tools such as My ATX Water, residents are empowered to make a difference.
“We are all in this together. We’re a community, and we're working together,” Sticker said.
Whether it’s detecting leaks, managing outdoor watering or taking advantage of rebates, every effort adds up. Smart conservation today helps secure water for tomorrow.
To learn more about water conservation, rebates and to stay updated on drought progression, visit www.austinwater.org.
The above story was produced by Multi Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
