According to the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor map, the city of Hays and Ellis County "is in pretty good shape."
But that can change quickly and dramatically, as Holly Dickman, Hays Water Conservation Specialist, told city commissioners Thursday night.
At this same time of year in 2012, "we were in an okay position but within a matter of months," the situation deteriorated and "Hays received less than 15 inches of moisture for the entire year."
"Things can change really quickly and it's always important to remember that."
Dickman presented a review of the 2019 city water rebate programs and unveiled some new ones for 2020 that are more inclusive.
The low-flow toilet rebate program remains the most popular.
There were 347 toilets replaced in 2019 with total rebates from the city of $37,970.
"The majority of rebates, 62 percent, were for the most efficient toilet you can purchase in Hays, which is the 0.8 gallon per flush toilet," Dickman said, "and that's an increase over the number of that type toilet purchased the year before."
In 2018, 449 toilets were replaced, although 90 of those were done by a Hays motel, Dickman noted.
The potential water saved by the 347 low flow toilets installed last year is 2,721,801 gallons or 8.3 acre feet.
"To add an additional (one) acre foot of water is going to cost (the city) about $15,000 an acre foot, for example the R9 Ranch project," added Toby Dougherty, city manager.
"So when Holly says we can save 8.3 acre feet with a $37,000 investment, that's a pretty good deal for us because you also don't have your ongoing production costs of the new source."
The R9 Ranch in Edwards County, owned by Hays and Russell, is a planned long-term water resource for the cities.
There were 85 washing machine rebates in 2019, for a rebate of $8,500. Nearly all, 95 percent, were of an integrated water factor IWF) of 3.2 or less.
"At the time the required IWF was 3.7 or less so the majority of them were well below that," Dickman said. "Potential water saved was 926,296 gallons or 2.8 acre feet."
New in 2020 are tiered washing machine rebates.
"We did increase the rebate for those washing machines with a 3.2 IWF and less to $250.
"I've seen more of those coming in the last month a half. That was the whole goal, to get a little more participation. Right now it seems like it's doing its job. We'll see as the year goes on."
Washers with a lesser IWF of 3.3 to 3.7 are still eligible for a $100 rebate from the city.
Turf conversions last year went well thanks to near perfect weather conditions which brought rain at the right time. Dickman also heavily promoted the program.
There were 21 turf conversions in 2019, considerably more than the 9 conversions in 2018. The average rebate for converting from cool-season grass to warm-season grass was $1,006.05.
Warm-season grasses are more drought tolerant than cool-season grasses and require less water.
Maximum square footage for the turf conversion will be increased this year to 3,000 sq. ft.
"Those straight turf-to-turf are really beneficial as far as water savings go," Dickman explained, "and that's a little bit more of an incentive sometimes to get those people to switch over to a warm-season turf grass or drought tolerant landscaping of some kind, and maybe help with the cost associated with that."
A Buffalograss seed rebate has also been added.
According to Dickman, Buffalograss is typically expensive, ranging from $10 to $12 a pound when bought in bulk, up to $28 a pound when bought at a local retailer or big box store.
The city will offer $10 per pound of Buffalograss seed needed to seed property at 1 to 3 pounds per 1,000 sq. ft.
"Seeding rates are much, much lower than your typical cool-season grass which may need 7 to 8 pounds."
Last year 242 free or low-cost low-flow showerheads were handed out, compared to 146 in 2018. The potential water savings is 1,589,940,gallons or 4.9 acre ft.
Details and applications for all the city rebates are available online at watersmarthays.com.
Communication is the key to Hays' successful water use education and outreach, believes Dickman.
She talked about 18 ways her office has brought the message to Hays residents ranging from school programs and partnership projects to social media and informational booths at events.
"We continue to look for new ways to save water within the city of Hays and try to help educate others about how to do that," Dickman concluded.
Mayor Shaun Musil and Vice Mayor Sandy Jacobs praised Dickman's dedication and expertise.
"I hear as much about you and what you're doing in your department as anything else that's going on," Jacobs said.
"When you get kids involved, they're talking about it all the time. You have done a really outstanding job."
Musil agreed.
"You're asking people to conserve but it's very positive,"Musil noted. "It's not so negative. It's just a way of life here.
"I like it on Facebook. You see it everywhere."
WaterSmart Hays informational posts are also on Twitter and Instagram.