Through conservation measures, the City of Hays has saved nearly 300 million gallons of water since instituted in 1992. With the current drought the city is looking at ways to improve some of the current conservation programs such as offering a variety of low flow shower heads at a discount. City Manager Toby Dougherty says the city has been sustained through the drought because of those water saving measures.

The city also is considering programs to help homeowners change from cool season grasses to ones that survive in warm weather. Demonstration gardens and grass plots will be developed to help property owners visualize the changes they could make to use less water.

The city is currently in a water watch and could move into a warning in the spring if conditions don’t improve.