Are we in a drought and does Mesa have enough water
to meet the needs of its customers?
The western United States, including Arizona, is experiencing a
drought that is the result of dryer than normal weather with
well-below-average precipitation levels in the higher elevations. Droughts
can span a few months to a few years. The State of Arizona and the Valley
are in the fourth consecutive year of less than average rainfall. In fact,
six out of the last seven years have been below normal. Historically, the
region has gone through both wet and dry years. We currently face the
latter situation.
Mesa has planned for these drier years by securing and managing a
variety of water sources. As a result, we are currently not experiencing a
water supply shortage or imposing restrictions on water use.
Our resources are not limitless though, so continued conservation is
imperative.
Mesa promotes and encourages voluntary water conservation year-round,
regardless of the amount of water available. Conservation today positively
impacts the amount of water we will need to find in the coming years. The
reality is that if drought conditions worsen, it may be necessary to
initiate water use restrictions. Another benefit to conserving now is one
associated with cost. The drought has forced Mesa to rely on more
expensive sources of water. If you reduce your usage, the City can avoid
purchasing the higher-cost supply and passing on those higher costs to our
customers. Whatever we do today to use water wisely will help tomorrow.
To find out about the City's water conservation programs, go to
the Conservation homepage or
Water-Use it
Wisely for more than 100 water saving tips.
Where does Mesa get its water?
Mesa is fortunate to have multiple water sources. The majority is surface
water that comes from the Salt and Verde Rivers, delivered as part of the
Salt River Project (SRP). Mesa also receives a large amount of water from
the Colorado River through the Central Arizona Project (CAP). When
additional water is needed, groundwater is pumped from the 38 wells
located throughout the city.
Mesa also captures wastewater and treats it to a very high
standard—nearly drinking water quality—then allows it to percolate back
into the ground where it is stored for future use. Mesa also stores
surplus surface water underground. These sources combined replenish our
groundwater.
This storage process is called artificial recharge. It is an
increasingly important tool in the management of Arizona's water supplies,
particularly in meeting the goals of the 1980 Groundwater Management Code.
Storing water underground to ensure an adequate supply for the purpose of
satisfying current and future needs during wet and dry years is both
practical and cost-effective in our desert environment.
Why is the situation on the Salt and Verde Rivers different this year from
previous years?
SRP depends on rainfall and snowmelt flowing down from the higher
elevations in Arizona to fill their reservoirs and replenish the water
supplies. Roosevelt Lake is the largest SRP reservoir and supplies water
for many Valley cities.
The drought conditions have caused a reduction in the amount of surface
water that is available from SRP. As a result, it may be necessary for
Mesa to rely more heavily on its other water sources.
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Do the ongoing negotiations regarding the
Colorado River impact Mesa?
Not directly. The loss of a surplus declaration on the Colorado River
affects California and Nevada. The Central Arizona Project is still
operating with a full canal and Mesa is able to obtain ample CAP supplies.
Is there still plenty of water on the
Colorado to meet demand?
There is still plenty of water to meet the demand of the Central Arizona
Project and therefore, to meet Mesa's demand for CAP water.
What has Mesa done to plan for dry years?
In addition to developing an active conservation program, the City of Mesa
has planned for these drier years by securing and managing a variety of
water sources, including a large storage of water underground to use
when there is a more limited supply of surface water available
What if the dry years continue?
Like many Valley cities, Mesa has several water sources. During times when
one particular source is less plentiful, we can rely on our other sources.
For example, the City has been storing water underground for many years to
use when surface water supplies are short. As a result of careful
planning, the City has access to adequate surface and groundwater supplies
to meet customer demand even during extended dry periods. However, our
water supply won't last forever. In the event that the drought conditions
worsen, it may be necessary to impose water use restrictions.
Is Mesa currently imposing water restrictions?
Mesa is not experiencing the need for water restrictions at this time, as
our available supplies are sufficient to meet total customer needs.
Because we live in the desert, though, we must always be mindful of how we
use our water. There is never enough to waste, no matter how well we have
planned for the dry times. Water conservation must be an ethic—a way of
life—as opposed to an action done in response to drought.
If in the future it becomes necessary to impose restrictions, they will
be implemented at the discretion of the City Council.
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What is Mesa doing to encourage conservation?
The City of Mesa has an active program to promote year-round water
conservation. It features many components that directly benefit Mesa
residents, including:
Landscape classes
Mesa offers a variety of free landscape classes throughout the year on
topics such as landscape watering, drip irrigation, Xeriscape landscaping,
and more. Residents can now receive class announcements on line by signing
up for the e-mail subscription
service. Choose Landscape Class List from
the selection of topics.
Grass-to-Xeriscape Landscape Rebate
The Grass-to-Xeriscape Landscape Rebate, approved by the Mesa City Council
on June 25, 2007 will encourage the use of landscape plants appropriate
to our Sonoran Desert climate. The current owner of a single-family home
can apply for a rebate of $500 for removing at least 500 square feet of
grass. The new program takes effect July 25, 2007 and customers must
qualify, which includes receiving prior approval from the City before
removing the grass. A yearly budget of $50,000 has been set aside for
the program, to be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Media campaign
In an effort to bring a higher level of awareness to conservation, Mesa
developed the Water—Use it Wisely campaign three years ago. The campaign
is now a regional program, supported by 14 other cities and organizations.
Community education is an ongoing process and the campaign is helping to
get conservation messages out to more people.
Multi-family (Apartment) Program
City conservation staff can assist apartment managers or property owners
with educating their community and staff about how to save water. To find
out more, please contact Becky Zusy via e-mail at becky.zusy@Mesaaz.gov
or by phone at (480)
644-3058.
Pricing Structure
The Utilities Department has commissioned a study of the costs of
providing water utility services to its customers and the most efficient
pricing structure. This study will consider pricing options that will
promote the efficient use of water and discourage the inefficient use or
wasting of water.
Publications
Utilities Conservation has a variety of free brochures and literature
available on topics such as Xeriscape landscaping, efficient landscape
watering, plants guides, conservation tips, and more.
School programs
Utilities Conservation staff works closely with Mesa Public Schools to educate
students about water issues in Arizona.
Mesa Public Schools currently presents water-related curriculum to students in
the first, fourth and seventh grades.
The first- and fourth-grade curriculum includes concepts on water resources,
water treatment, water conservation, and the importance of making responsible
decisions relating to water use. The seventh-grade science unit addresses issues
related to water quality.
For more information, contact Becky Zusy at (480) 644-3058 or via e-mail at
becky.zusy@Mesaaz.gov.
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What can I do to conserve water?
Take advantage of the many programs offered by the City of Mesa
Conservation office. For more information, visit the
conservation home page.
Please feel free to e-mail your questions or requests for
information to conservation.info@Mesaaz.gov or reach us by phone at
(480) 644-3306.
Next, check out wateruseitwisely.com
for more than 100 ways to
conserve water. For example, use a broom instead of a hose to clean your
driveway and sidewalk, fix toilet and faucet leaks, run your dishwasher
and clothes washer only when you have full loads, and turn off the faucet
when shaving or brushing your teeth.
Was the recent rate increase the result of the dry conditions we are
experiencing?
The recent City of Mesa water and wastewater rate increases were needed to
balance the general fund and were unrelated to the current dry conditions.
The City funds a portion of its services, programs, and public safety with
utility revenues. The City's income must keep pace with the rising costs
of delivering services to our citizens.
As the drought continues, Mesa will rely upon more expensive sources of
water. It may become necessary for water and wastewater utility rates to
be increased in order to maintain acceptable levels of utility services
and the Utilities Department's contributions to the City's general fund.
Additionally, the study of the water and wastewater utilities pricing
structure may recommend changes to our rate structure. This may cause some
customers' bills to increase in order to discourage inefficient use or
wasting of water and promote the efficient use of water.
Why are golf courses still so lush and green?
Golf courses work at being good water stewards by practicing effective
water management. Efficient landscape watering practices result in
attractive, healthy turf and vegetation. Golf courses are governed by
strict guidelines established by the
Arizona Department of Water Resources
and must adhere to detailed water management plans.
The golf courses in Mesa use canal water, ground water, or
reclaimed water, which is highly treated wastewater. In fact, Leisure
World in Mesa was one of the first golf courses in Arizona to begin using
reclaimed water. The benefit of using these alternative sources on
golf courses is that it saves the treated drinking water for other uses such as
cooking and bathing.
Mesa's City courses, Dobson Ranch and Riverview, utilize SRP raw water to
irrigate their landscape and turf. Raw water comes directly from the canal
and does not go through the treatment process. Riverview uses 100 percent
SRP water. Dobson gets 98 percent of its water from SRP and the other two
percent comes from an on-site well. The well is used primarily when SRP
dries up its canals for maintenance and cleaning.
Dobson Ranch and Riverview employ efficient water management techniques.
Dobson Ranch has an onsite weather station that measures temperature,
humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation. The data collected is used to
determine how much water has been put on the landscape in the last 24
hours. Before the next irrigation cycle begins, the data is sent to the
central controller, which automatically sets the amount of water each
sprinkler head delivers. Customizing the amount of water that is applied
prevents overwatering on the golf course. The weather station also has
rain and high wind shut off devices that interrupt the scheduled run
times.
The data collected from the weather station at Dobson Ranch is then
transferred to Riverview and used to schedule irrigation run times at this
course, as well.
Staffs at both courses are implementing additional water conservation
measures. Each course is cutting back on watering in areas that are out of
play (called deficit watering). Additionally, the courses are planning to
reduce the amount of turf that is over seeded. If the turf area does not
affect play, it won't be over seeded. These two simple conservation
measures can save thousands of gallons of water.
Golf courses and resorts are a critical component of Arizona’s economic
health, providing jobs and revenue. The golf course industry contributed
$13.1 billion to the state's economy in 2001, according to the Arizona
Golf Industry Association.
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