HOUSTON – Did you know you’re paying for water wasting away in your home?
In July 2022, the Houston Public Works launched an educational outreach program, Give Water a Break, to address the City of Houston’s water-related issues and promote simple habits to conserve water.
“A leaky toilet can lose up to 200 gallons a day, and a leaky sprinkler head 25,00 gallons in six months--that’s as big as a backyard pool,” said Mandi Siebels, senior division manager of Water Programs and Outreach at Houston Public Works.
All these leaks add up on your water bill, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Siebels shares easy tips to save water and money:
- Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth.
- Fix leaky toilets and sprinklers.
- Run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads.
- Limit showers to five minutes to save over 3,600 gallons per year.
- Use the Water My Yard app to prevent overwatering your lawn.
With 50 percent of household water used for outdoor landscaping—much of which runs off and evaporates without benefiting your lawn—you can save even more by using a rain barrel. By capturing rainwater, you can significantly reduce your reliance on the city’s water supply and potentially save up to 1,300 gallons during peak summer months. Watch how it works in the video above.
Houston Public Works partners with Rain Water Solutions to sell rain barrels to the community twice a year. The next sale will be in October, with the exact date to be determined. Visit the Houston Public Works website for updates.
To learn more about the Give Water a Break campaign, visit givewaterabreak.org
The Artist Boat Coastal Heritage Preserve initiative is part of the Galveston Bay Estuary Program (GBEP) series, raising awareness of the conservation efforts to protect our local bays, bayous, and estuaries for future generations. These initiatives are made possible by the support of GBEP through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Thanks to generous funding from GBEP, TCEQ, and the U.S. EPA, this partnership with the Environmental Institute of Houston (EIH) at the University of Houston-Clear Lake is paving the way for a sustainable and healthier future.
Check out some of the programs we featured on ‘Houston Life.’
🍃 Explore the nature preserve protecting Galveston’s coastline and wildlife
🦪 An oyster’s journey from shore to plate and back to revitalize Galveston Bay
🌊 Keep Houston waterways healthy at Trash Bash 2025
💚 Reviving Houston’s bayous: Inside the restoration project making the city greener