Water Conservation and maintaining water quality are both important actions that everyone can take part in to help enhance the Richardson Environment's natural environment.    

Current Richardson Water Conservation efforts and information:   

• Reducing Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS) can reduce the energy needed to maintain water quality.
  
• Protect the quality of water in Richardson.  "This Drain for Rain" signs indicate storm drains are meant to channel rain water towards creeks and do not have the benefit of water treatment.  For further information on creek maintenance check out the Creek Maintenance Awareness Campaign.   
  
• Water Quality Monitoring – Entails semi-annual monitoring of 18 specific sites on Cottonwood Creek, Prairie Creek, Spring Creek, Huffhines Creek, Duck Creek, and Rowlett Creek plus several others. Streams are evaluated for physical and chemical characteristics to ensure compliance with State guidelines and standards.
  
• In case of harmful waste contaminants in waterways the Richardson Health Department staff responds to contain environmental impact.  
  
• The Richardson Pretreatment Program monitors and surveys categorical and significant industrial users to ensure that wastewater is pre-treated to acceptable and established standards.
  
• Dry Weather Monitoring – An element of the overall stormwater management program, staff monitors and visually inspects 10% of the 550 stormwater outfall pipes to ensure that no illicit discharges occur.  All discharges are screened, tested, and evaluated.  When a problem is encountered the discharge is traced back to the source for corrective action.