Conserve Water
These are some ways you can get started saving water at home:
- Utilize Water-Wise landscaping (xeriscaping) techniques – Learn more on the Save Dallas Water Resource Center under Water-Wise Landscaping
- Install a rain barrel to water your garden and flower beds
- Follow the mandatory watering schedule
- Take advantage of the New Throne for Your Home toilet replacement program
- Install water-saving Water Sense fixtures and high efficiency (HE) appliances
- Fix leaky faucets and running toilets
- Take a 5-minute shower instead of a bath
- Don’t leave the water on while you brush your teeth or while you are washing dishes
- Install a graywater reclamation system
Save water and paper when you sign up for paperless billing. Learn more about it and sign up here.
Save Dallas Water suggests many other simple ways to use water efficiently, and provides information on free programs for DWU customers, including free check-ups of residential or commercial automatic irrigation systems by licensed irrigators.
Defend Your Drains
Toilets and drains are not trash cans; pipes are made for water, toilet paper, and human waste. Put trash in the can, because even if it makes it way all the way to the wastewater treatment plant, it will be removed and taken to the landfill. This can result in clogged pipes, and shutting down treatment operations to clean these items out, which results in downtime and high operation costs (which the taxpayers pay for). Save money, save your pipes, and throw your paper towels, wipes, and feminine hygiene products away. Visit Defend Your Drains to learn more.
Did you know…
Medicine that you flush down the drain doesn’t disappear, and it doesn’t get cleaned out by wastewater treatment facilities – it goes right into our streams and rivers, where it threatens wildlife and human health. Walgreens offers safe, FREE medication disposal at some of its stores. You can take your expired or unwanted prescription, over-the-counter, and even pet medications to store kiosks during regular pharmacy hours at the following Dallas locations:
5742 East Mockingbird Ln
Dallas, TX 75206
8120 South Cockrell Hill Rd
Dallas, TX 75236
For a map of all locations, click here.
Fight the Grease Monster!
Pipe clogged with grease
You need to Defend Your Drains from another major threat to sewer overflow, FOG – Fats, Oils, and Grease – from cooking that form large blockages in pipes. To prevent this from happening, DWU started the Cease the Grease program (now a part of the Defend Your Drains program) to encourage residents to collect “FOG” in sealable containers and throw it away, or better yet, recycle it. You can collect cooking oil in a sealed plastic container and take it to any of the Cease the Grease drop-off locations. It is mixed with solids left over from the wastewater treatment process, and then it is all converted into methane gas, or biogas, that is used at the Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant to make electricity. The electricity helps DWU clean wastewater and it reduces Southsides’s energy usage by 60%. By recycling more cooking oil, we can produce even more electricity, and make Southside energy independent.
Do your part to help the City fight illegal dumping!
We need the help of our citizens to keep our rivers and streams clean for everyone to enjoy.
- If you see illegal dumping in progress – someone dumping tires, household waste, or any other items, call 9-1-1 and report it. Make sure to include the license plate number, if possible! Do not approach the person or put yourself in danger!
- If you find an illegal dumping site – call 3-1-1 and report it.
- Outside of Dallas, you can use the Dallas-Fort Worth Report Illegal Dumping hotline (1-888-335-DUMP) and website.
Protect Our Stormwater System
Where does it go? Be aware of what you are washing into the street – it all winds up in the stormwater system, where it goes untreated right into our streams and rivers. When you wash your vehicle, the soap and chemicals you use may seem harmless, but they can pose a serious threat to fish, frogs, and other aquatic life. Not to mention, that water will pick up any oil or chemicals from your driveway. Take your car to a commercial car wash where the water is recycled. Speaking of oil, NEVER let your used motor oil run into the storm system. Motor oil can be infinitely recycled. See below for details. When you put pesticides and fertilizers on your lawn, they can also wash into the storm system. If you MUST use these chemicals, make sure you don’t put them out before it rains or your sprinkler system comes on; it won’t help them “soak in”, they will run right into the gutters, wasting your time and money and potentially harming wildlife.
Did you know…
If you or your lawn maintenance professional blow your leaves into storm drains, you can receive a $1,500 fine. Leaves, just like trash, can clog storm drain pipes, causing backups and flooding. Keep your storm drains clear of debris.
To learn more about the types of stormwater pollution and how you can help prevent it, visit WhereDoesItGo. Click the picture below to learn how to recycle your used motor oil through BOPA.
