Texas Parks Reducing Water Use

Dought conditions in Texas have led to the shutting down of decorative fountains and waterfalls at theme parks including Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Photo: Greg Wood

Ongoing drought conditions in Texas have caused San Antonio-area theme park operators to reduce water use.

Decorative fountains and waterfalls have been turned off at SeaWorld San Antonio and Six Flags Fiesta Texas. At Splashtown, grass lawns are not lush and green as usual, but rather brown and patchy.

Essentially, parks are cutting back on water use for landscaping and decorative features. Rides and attractions, most of which use recycled water, remain largely unaffected by the restrictions, but the parks' conservation efforts help the San Antonio Water System save thousands of gallons of water as the area endures a record-setting drought.

Despite recent rain, Stage 3 drought restrictions are looming as the Edwards Aquifer's index well in Bexar County remains less than 650 feet above mean sea level. Authorities fear the aquifer level could drop to 640 feet in the coming weeks, triggering Stage 3 restrictions, which have never before been enforced.

Residential and commercial users tend to consume more water during times of drought. SAWS data show most water parks are using slightly more water this summer compared with last year, when rain was more plentiful.

The same parks also used more water during a time of watering restrictions in May 2009 compared with a time of no watering restrictions in May 2008.

Park officials said water consumption usually goes up depending on the number of people that visit their parks and use water features such as drinking fountains and toilets.

The only park that used less water during times of drought is SeaWorld, which used about 4 million gallons of water in May, down by about 14 percent compared with the same month last year. The park also used about 22 percent less water in May 2009 compared with May 2008.

Splashtown used about 167,000 gallons of water in May, up significantly from about 32,000 gallons in 2010.

The parks' overall water usage numbers are not comprehensive, as they do not account for alternate water sources such as private wells. SAWS officials were fast to mention that the large commercial water users are not necessarily water wasters. SeaWorld, for example, uses water-recycling systems at its San Antonio park.

''They recycle water in a lot of different ways,'' SAWS spokeswoman Anne Hayden said, stressing the importance of working with commercial users because of their economic impact on the city.

''Yes, they use a lot of water, but they bring a huge economic benefit'' to the city, she said. ''Here at SAWS we know that just because a business uses a lot of water, it doesn't mean they waste a lot of water.''