Save Abilene Water

Water Conservation History in Abilene

Abilene experienced it's greatest day of water consumption in July 1980, when 49 million gallons of water was used. There were no limits or conservation plans in place for water customers. By 1985, the Texas Legislature recognized that conservation was much more economical then developing new water resources and made it a key factor in granting water permits.

Water Strategy

Drought conditions in the late 1980s and again in 1999 to 2000 spurred city leaders to plan for Abilene's future water needs. Their strategy had three primary components:

• The purchase of water from a third reservoir, Lake O.H. Ivie, 86 miles south of Abilene.
• Development of a new reclaimed water use program that provided treated wastewater effluent to large irrigation customers, such as golf courses, parks, and universities, which previously used drinking water to nourish their green spaces.
• The creation of Abilene's water conservation plan - based on best practices and developed in cooperation with master gardeners, landscape professionals, and city staff. Our water conservation plan enables residents to save millions of gallons of water every year.

These measures have helped Abilene save billions of gallons of water. In 2011, we had the single worst climate year in our history with high temperatures and drought. However, the changes worked. In 2011, only 37 million gallons of water were used on our peak day. For the entire year of 2011, the city used 1 billion fewer gallons than we did in 1998 and we even had 14,000 more residents.

Recent & Current Projects

Today, the Big Country continues to face new, ongoing drought conditions. The City of Abilene is once again taking a leadership role to provide additional water supplies to the region. Our strategy includes projects to provide additional water now, over the next few years (as conditions require), and for future generations to come. Recent and current projects include:

• An expansion of our reclaimed water use program constructed a brand new, state-of-the-art Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility to take an average of 7 MGD (Million Gallons per Day) of the existing treated wastewater effluent and provide additional treatment, to include reverse osmosis. It is being released back into Lake Fort Phantom Hill where it will undergo nature's biological treatment process and add to our water supplies.
• The City of Abilene is making arrangements to purchase additional water supplies from Possum Kingdom Reservoir. This project includes the necessary pipeline and treatment facilities to respond to changing drought conditions into the foreseeable future.
• An expansion of the City's water treatment facilities for Lake O.H. Ivie is increasing the total production capacity of the Hargesheimer Water Treatment Plant. This will make the treatment plant more efficient and allow for the treatment of more water from this vital water supply source.
• Finally, the City of Abilene is diligently working to acquire the necessary State and Federal permits to construct a new reservoir on the Brazos River. Cedar Ridge Reservoir is being proposed northwest of Albany and will provide new water supplies to the entire region. Once permitted and constructed, Cedar Ridge will provide new water supplies to the region for generations to come.

Thanks to the support of Abilene residents and businesses, we are proud of how our city continues to adapt to drought conditions, a growing population, and increasing demands on our water supply.