As temperatures rise this summer, the North Texas Municipal Water District is encouraging everyone to do their part to protect this vital resource for future generations.
NTMWD provides wholesale water services to more than 2.3 million people across 70 communities north and east of Dallas. The district’s service area sees about 75,000 new residents move here each year, including in high-growth counties like Collin and Kaufman.
As the wider North Central Texas region, also known as Region C for long-range planning purposes, continues to experience growth, Public Education Manager Kathy Fonville said water conservation and reuse will make up about 45% of its new water supplies by 2080.
Here are three ways residents can reduce their outdoor water use this summer:
1. Follow the 1-2-0 rule
The 2025 Water is Awesome summer campaign urges homeowners to only water once a week, twice a week or not at all, depending on conditions.
“When it’s time to water your lawn, remember: It's as easy as 1, 2, 0,” Fonville said. “Once a week, twice a week or zero times a week. If it’s dry and hot, water once or twice a week, but no more. That’s all your grass needs. If it just rained or is about to rain, don’t water at all.”
2. Sign up for the Water My Yard tool
It’s easy to overwater, especially during the summer. According to horticulture experts, most lawns don’t need more than twice-a-week watering, and often much less—even during summer months.
“Most people are not watering correctly,” Fonville said. “It's about watering efficiently, so that you really get the water to soak into your landscape and don't waste water.”
NTMWD supports the Water My Yard program, which sends free weekly, location-specific watering advice based on local weather data. The district also recommends using a smart irrigation controller, which adjusts automatically and lets individuals control their systems from their phones.
3. Check for leaks and sprinkler issues
Many people set their irrigation systems to run early in the morning, so they may not see if there is a problem.
“Once a month, check for leaks and make sure that your sprinkler heads are pointed in the right direction,” Fonville said. “It can save you so much water, which in turn, helps you manage your water bill.”
Find out more
NTMWD also encourages residents to check with their city for watering schedules, leak alerts and rebates. Some communities offer automatic notifications for leaks or allow residents to monitor water use through a customer dashboard.
To learn more, sign up for Water My Yard and explore conservation tools, visit www.ntmwd.com.
The above story was produced by Multi-platform Journalist Mary Katherine Shapiro 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.
