Save Fort Worth Water

Classes & Events

 Please note that all classes are subject to change of format from live to virtual due to COVID-19. 

Water Saving Seminars

Using less water is not only good for the environment; it is also great for saving money on your water bill. The seminar series, taught by local and regional experts, covers a wide variety of landscape and gardening topics each year. Fort Worth Water Conservation staff attend each seminar in case you have questions about Fort Worth outdoor watering requirements and conservation programs.

Classes are offered in-person and online each month. Please register for only one option. Registration is not required for virtual classes. 

 All in-person seminars are scheduled for Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT), 1700 University Drive. 

Fix A Leak Week Workshops

Joint virtual workshops were held with the cities of Dallas and Houston to promote water conservation through finding and fixing leaks.

March 16, 2021 (indoor)

March 18, 2021 (outdoor)

WaterSense®  Your Better Yard Two-Part Workshop

To help homeowners enhance their landscapes with water-saving techniques and technologies that fit their lifestyles and yard type, the EPA WaterSense® program has created the Your Better Yard campaign. Your Better Yard starts with the premise that making yards more attractive and functional can also save water, money and time with the right WaterSense®-labeled products and water-saving techniques included in homeowners’ landscape and irrigation plans.

Fort Worth Water Conservation and the Fort Worth Public Library are partnering to bring you a virtual two-part workshop taught by regional experts from Rooted In. This two-workshop series will examine the eight types of landscape lifestyles (4 in each session) and provide tips to help make you make your preferred landscape fit your lifestyle. Register here for both workshops.

BRIT Adult & Family Education Classes

Fort Worth Water and the Fort Worth Botanic Garden/Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) will offer six new classes during 2021. The classes will include both adult and family-oriented activities. Classes focus on water conservation, including classes on drip irrigation, irrigation basics, green roofs, rain water harvesting and more.

BRIT Adult Education

All adult education classes are virtual.

Thursday, June 17 (5:30-7:30 pm): Drip Irrigation DIY

Instructor: Rooted In

Make every drop count! Drip irrigation is the most efficient irrigation method of landscape beds, potted plants, vegetable gardens and home foundations. Whether you have an existing sprinkler system or an outdoor faucet, learn how to install, convert and maintain a drip irrigation system. The flow of information from our experts will make “do it yourself” drip irrigation easy.

 Thursday, July 22 (5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.): Gardening for Rainwater: BRIT Bioswales and Beyond

Instructor: Heather Bass, TRWD

Bioswales are garden features that use plants to naturally filter and direct rainwater. Learn about BRIT’s bioswales as well as other types of garden features used to control stormwater runoff. The class will feature the basics of how each garden type works, the main differences between them, design, plant selection and how to build your own stormwater control garden. Using the BRIT parking lot bioswales as examples, the class with virtually walk through the system and different types of plants in each one.

Thursday, August 19 (10 a.m. to noon): Bulletproof Plants

Instructor: Rooted In

 The harsh and unpredictable Texas climate is one of the greatest adversaries to a lush and vibrant landscape. Your greatest defense is to arm your landscape with plants that can withstand the barrage of heat and drought that the growing season is sure to bombard us with. We will cover our top 100 bulletproof plants, adapted to safeguarding your landscape against even the toughest conditions. You will also learn how proper soil preparation, proper planting and site selection can help you triumph against the toughest landscape conditions. We will also cover plant combinations that look their best together to bring peace and tranquility for a garden that is beautiful and healthy year-round. Register for the online class.

BRIT Family Education

Family classes are at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT), 1700 University Drive.

Current capacity is 30 participants, based on current CDC guidelines. Maximum capacity may be adjusted depending on CDC guidelines at the time of the program.

Saturday, May 15th (10 a.m. to noon): Build Your Own Living Roof

Instructor: Brooke Best

Is it possible for a roof to be living? At the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT), it is!

Gather up your family to discover how a living roof is made possible and why they help us to conserve water. Get detailed information on the roof design and construction process. Meet the  researcher who actively keeps up with what and who lives on the roof. Learn more about the rainwater that flows off the roof and where it goes all the while you are building your very own miniature living roof to take home.

 Saturday, June 5th (10 a.m. to noon): Catch the Rain: DIY Rain Barrel Class

Instructor: RootedIn

This family workshop is sure to be a barrel of fun! Join us to learn simple techniques on how to divert, store and use one of nature’s best resources for the garden. We will tour the rainwater harvesting systems on the FWBG|BRIT campus and pour through the basics and benefits of rainwater harvesting. After learning about the different ways to harvest the rain, participants will receive materials to decorate their own rainwater harvesting system. Each participant will have the option to take home a 55-gallon rain barrel at $60 dollars each. Rain barrels are recycled food-grade containers, roughly 24” wide by 36” tall.

 Saturday, July 24th (10 a.m. to noon): Bioswales & Raingardens

Instructor: Betsy Marsh & Heather Bass, TRWD

Rainwater is precious! How can we best conserve and care for it? At this family workshop, you will learn all about protecting our rainwater by playing “raindrop” games, conducting experiments, touring FWBG|BRIT’s beautiful campus with plants that capture and clean rainwater, and making your own special rain garden called a bioswale!

YardSmart Conferences

YardSmart is now a free, informative full-day conference designed to provide effective, beneficial ways to use water wisely in the landscape. Topics vary by season and have included butterfly gardening, landscape watering, container gardens, perennials, trees, rainwater harvesting, edibles, lawn care and much more. This conference is offered each spring and fall.

Fall 2021

This is a new full-day, multi-track conference format, including a keynote speaker, DIY classes, small group sessions, lunch 'n learn options, and rain barrel workshops.

Saturday, September 18, 2021

9 a.m.–4 p.m. (Doors open at 8:30 a.m.)

Location: Fort Worth Botanic Garden*, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd.

Register here beginning on August 1, 2021. Registration is required for this event. There will be no walk-up registration at the door. 

Landscape Consultations will be available from 10 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Please register for a consultation on your registration form. Number available and times are dependent upon number of available consultants.

Tentative Schedule

8:30 a.m.        Doors Open for Check In (coffee, tea and water will be available all day)

9:00 a.m.        Keynote Presentation: The Sustainability of Water

                                    David Hopman, UTA Professor of Landscape Architecture

10:15 a.m.       Session 1

                                    Landscape Care through the Seasons (Claudia Montoya)

                                    Why Is Dirt So Important? (Bob Byers, FW Botanic Garden)

                                    Preventing Stormwater Pollution at Home (TRWD Watershed Team)

                                    What Tools Should I Use? (Toni Moorehead, Master Gardeners)

11:35 a.m.        Lunch’n Learn Classes

                                    Virtual Tour-FW Botanic Garden (Boy Byers/Katherine Campbell, FWBG)

                                    Irrigation System Maintenance (Rooted In)

                                    Third session (TBD)

1:00 p.m.        Session 2

                                    The Role of Trees in the Landscape (Craig Fox, Fort Worth Forestry)

                                    How to Get a Healthier Lawn (Keith Brock, BRIT-FWBG)

                                    What Tools Should I Use? (Toni Moorehead, Master Gardeners)

                                    Rain Water Harvesting Workshop 1 (Dotty Woodson)

                                                *separate preregistration required for this workshop

2:30 p.m.        Session 3

                                    Texas SmartScape: Gardening with Native Plants (NCTCOG)

                                    What’s in your Garden (Besides Plants)? Attracting the Right Creatures

                                                (Kerry Anderson, Texas Discovery Gardens)

                                    Edible Landscapes (Master Gardeners)

                                    Rain Water Harvesting Workshop 2 (Dotty Woodson)

                                                *separate preregistration required for this workshop

3:45 p.m.                    Wrap Up (Door Prizes and Evaluations)

 *Facility is wheelchair accessible. To arrange for sign language interpretation, call TDD 817-392-8544 at least 72 hours prior to event.

Spring 2022

The next YardSmart conference is set for Saturday, February 26, 2022.

Topic announcement and registration will begin in January 2022.

Irrigation 101 Workshops

Fort Worth Water and Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) holds virtual sprinkler do-it-yourself workshops to help you get your sprinkler system up and running at maximum efficiency. An efficient system saves water and helps keep your water bill lower during those hot summer months. A special emphasis in these classes will be regulating water pressure in your system to improve efficiency.

Workshops were held on January 19, February 25, March 16, April 13

 View a video of the workshop taught by regional AgriLife expert Dottie Woodson.

Other Educational Opportunities

Speaker's Bureau

 When you turn on your tap for a drink of water, to take a shower or wash clothes, you take for granted that water will flow. Water is a precious natural resource that cannot be manufactured. It is important that we know how we can preserve and conserve it for now and future generations.

The Speakers Bureau provides an educational forum to heighten the awareness of water conservation and water quality issues. We provide speakers for neighborhood associations, churches, schools or social organizations at no charge. Request a Speaker.

Learning About Water at Home

Fort Worth Water has created a compilation of lesson plans and resources about water for parents and children learning together or teachers looking for lessons to supplement classroom curriculum. Lesson plans have been created by respected organization in the water field.

Download the Resource Guide.(PDF, 3MB) Fort Worth Water has a certified teacher on staff to support you if needed. 

Fort Worth Water is committed to water efficiency and conservation strategies that reduce water use and waste to help extend the life of existing water supplies and keep clean, safe water affordable for all residents.

The Water Conservation Plan goals are:

• To reduce water consumption from the levels that would prevail without conservation efforts.
•  To reduce the loss and waste of water.
• To improve efficiency in the use of water.
• To encourage efficient outdoor water use.
• To document the level of recycling and reuse in the water supply.
• To extend the life of current water supplies by reducing the rate of growth in demand.

Part of the conservation plan includes setting goals for reducing water consumption.  The 2019 Water Conservation Plan's gallons per capita per day (gpcd) goals are shown below. Weather plays a major factor in water use, and can cause significant variations in water use from one year to the next. To smooth out the impacts of weather changes, Fort Worth uses a five-year running average to determine goals and track progress. 

Fort Worth Water uses several documents to guide its water conservation program:

Water Conservation Plan(PDF, 10MB)

Drought/Emergency Water Management Plan(PDF, 230KB)

Conservation Ordinance(PDF, 12MB)

Irrigation Ordinance(PDF, 906KB) 

Alliance for Water Efficiency

The Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) is a voice and a platform for water use efficiency and water conservation; bringing a critical perspective to an increasingly thirsty North America.

AWE is a partnership of organizations and professionals changing the way people think about water. Driven by a belief that using water efficiently saves money, preserves the environment, and helps communities thrive, AWE work to achieve sustainable water use. Since day one, AWE has embarked to support and enhance water conservation efforts, providing benefit to water utilities, water conservation professionals, planners, regulators, and consumers. Success comes with help of members and partners, including Fort Worth Water. Learn more.

Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) & Fort Worth Botanic Gardens

BRIT supports botanical solutions to address globally challenging problems ranging from pollution clean-up to sustainable food sources. By serving as a think tank and catalyst, BRIT inspires learning and forms interdisciplinary collaborations for critical research within scientific, educational, social, cultural, and business communities. Their work impacts our community and the world in a number of functional areas including, environment, by giving people a local sense of stewardship; society, by training a new generation of thinkers and problem solvers; and conservation, by offering methods for better stewardship of the land. Read more.

As of October 1, 2020, BRIT will manage the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens. Both institutions host Fort Worth Water events and classes. In 2021, BRIT will offer six new classes for adults and families for Fort Worth residents.

Rooted In

Fort Worth Water collaborates with Rooted In to provide education and outreach classes. Through education, conservation, and community collaboration, Rooted In’s innovative and knowledgeable horticulture and conservation specialists offer a holistic, science-based approach to meeting the demands of an ever-changing Texas landscape and help your projects take root.

EPA WaterSense

EPA is building WaterSense as a national brand for water efficiency. That brand is more than just a product label; it is a symbol representing the importance of water efficiency in the United States.  Making WaterSense labeled products, new homes, and services the preferred choice among consumers will help preserve water supplies for future generations, save on utility bills, and protect the environment.

EPA cannot achieve these goals alone. Fort Worth Water is proud to be part of a partnership program to share resources and encourage the adoption of water-efficient behaviors and quality products that use less water. Fort Worth Water participates in WaterSense public education and outreach campaigns. Learn more about WaterSense.

Keep Fort Worth Beautiful

Keep Fort Worth Beautiful (KFWB) is an award-winning affiliate of Keep America Beautiful that has served our community for more than 40 years. Its mission is to educate and engage Fort Worth residents and businesses to take responsibility for improving their community environment. Read more.

KFWB and Fort Worth Water partner to promote events and volunteer opportunities that help protect and beautify the local environment. 

North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG)

Working together with over 230 member governments including 16 counties, numerous cities, school districts, and special districts, the NCTCOG Environment & Development Department (E&D) guides and promotes collaboration among public entities to progressively address common environmental issues and development challenges facing them due to our region’s rapid growth and urbanization. To accomplish our goals, E&D has six strategic initiatives for Sustainable Environmental Excellence: Materials Management, Natural Resources, Public Works, Regional Codes, Watershed Management, and Development Excellence. Read more.

Fort Worth Water staff serve on committees and task forces to help design collaborative public education and outreach that promote water efficiency and conservation, as well as work to protect the water sources and water quality of the entire region. Familiar programs include Doo the Right Thing pet waste disposal and Defend the Drains fats, oils and grease disposal campaigns.

Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD)

TRWD provides raw water to more than 30 wholesale customers in 11 North Texas counties.

With more than two million people in the district’s rapidly growing service area, their mission is to ensure residents and businesses have a safe, reliable water supply that meets their needs today and for decades to come. Primary wholesale customers include the cities of Arlington, Fort Worth and Mansfield and the Trinity River Authority. Read more.

TRWD has two other websites with valuable information about water efficiency and water conservation. SaveTarrantWater.com and WaterIsAwesome.com offer information and education about saving and protecting water, including classes, events, weekly watering advice, and more. Download the TRWD 2021 Learn and Grow class schedule.(PDF, 3MB)   See past presentations on the TRWD Save Tarrant Water YouTube channel. 

Fort Worth Water partners with TRWD on YardSmart, Weekly Watering Advice, irrigation system evaluations and other classes and events.