Spring homeowners could save millions of gallons of water each year if every household in Harris County MUD 82 trims sprinkler time by just 10 to 15 minutes a week, the district said in an Aug. 17 post.
The district is pushing residents to sign up for WaterMyYard.org, a free program from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service that sends weekly watering recommendations based on local weather data. If it rained earlier in the week, the program tells users to skip watering entirely.
Up to 50% of residential water used outdoors is wasted due to overwatering, the district said. That waste inflates utility bills. It also weakens grass roots and makes lawns more vulnerable to fungal diseases and pests.
How it works
The program, run under the direction of Dr. Guy Fipps at Texas A&M AgriLife, pulls data from local weather stations, rainfall measurements and evapotranspiration rates to calculate exactly how much supplemental water a lawn needs. It covers warm-season turf grasses common in Spring, including St. Augustine, Bermuda, Zoysia and Buffalo.
To sign up, residents visit WaterMyYard.org or download the free mobile app, enter their address, answer a few questions about their irrigation system (spray heads, rotor heads or drip irrigation) and choose to receive weekly alerts by text or email.
All of Harris County is covered by the program.
Statewide results
The program has drawn more than 49,800 participants across Texas, saving an estimated 3.9 billion gallons per year, according to a February 2025 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension impact report. That water savings translates to roughly $14.2 million in reduced utility costs statewide.
Landscape watering can account for 50% to 80% of a home's water use during summer months, according to WaterMyYard.org.
What's next
The Harris County MUD 82 Board of Directors holds its next public meeting Monday, Aug. 24, at noon at Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP, 3200 Southwest Freeway, Suite 2400, Houston. Meetings are open to the public.
Upcoming community events
- Saturday, Aug. 22: Tomball Farmers Market, 9 a.m., 205 W. Main Street, Tomball
- Sunday, Aug. 23: D.K. Harrell at Dosey Doe - The Big Barn, 7:30 p.m., 25911 Interstate 45 N, Spring
- Thursday, Aug. 27: GTACC Networking Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., Church 1:37, 14050 Park Dr., Tomball
