Water conservation is a very important aspect of life in Arizona.

Most of the state gets its water from the Colorado River and the Aqua
Fria River through the Central Arizona Project (CAP). The lines of CAP
span 336 miles all around central Arizona and bring water to Pima and
Maricopa County. With water being such a valuable and rare resource
it is important that the population knows how to conserve water. In my
project I will educate the public about practical techniques to conserve
water and the consequences of abusing it.
Even the pioneers of Arizona knew that water conservation
would be necessary to live in the desert, and starting in 1877 laws
regarding water use were instated. The only regular rains that come
to the valley are during the light monsoon season at the end of
summer, but these do not provide enough water to sustain Arizonas
lakes and large bodies of water. In 1963 Arizona took California to the
Supreme Court over rights to the Colorado river, and in a major
victory, won federal reserved water rights. Construction of the Central
Arizona Project began in 1985. After the installation of CAP, Arizonas
Department of Water Resources incorporated management plans for
upkeep and regulations on water use. Despite all the hard work put
forth already, water conservation is still very important to desert life.
Apart from the environmental aspect Arizonas water system is
costly. In most other parts of the country water bills are either very

small, or non existent because people can dig wells in their backyards.
Water bills can range from around fifty dollars, to three hundred.
These numbers depend on the size of the household and the amount
of water the household uses. In any event water bills can be very
costly and expose the need for conservation.
It is necessary that people conserve water because it is scarce.
70 percent of the world is made up of water, but only three percent of
that water is fresh water, and only one percent of that freshwater is
accessible. If water shortages and droughts become rampant it will put
stress on the agricultural community, because without freshwater for
crops, people do not eat. If farmers are unable to make profit and
move into cities, not only does the United States loose its food supply,
but the city sewers will become more polluted, and water supply will
dwindle even more. As it becomes more difficult to get water, the more
conservation is valued.
Water is wasted often within households, and the average person
uses 100 gallons per day. One simple step to reduce that number is to
buy more efficient appliances such as washing machines and
dishwashers. Laundry takes up around 25 percent of all indoor water
use. Leaky toilets and long showers are other threats to water
conservation. Low Flow shower heads can be installed to minimize
water use. It is important people make sure their appliances are

working properly, and that they check for leaks. However, the most
simple and cost effective way to conserve water is to simply use less.
Turn off the sink while brushing your teeth, take shorter showers, and
buy Watersense, and Energy Star appliances.
The native plants in Arizona have adapted to the harsh heat and
little water, and therefore are referred to as water efficient. Green
grass lawns without desert plants cause problems because they do not
thrive in the desert and require extensive maintenance and miles of
irrigation systems. If a person absolutely must have these kinds of
plants it is very important the homeowner seeks a professional to
install the irrigation systems to ensure that they are receiving all the
water and to minimize leaks. Drip irrigation valves, sprinklers, and rain
and moisture sensors are available for use to ensure that people are
using water efficiently in their yards. It is suggested that the
population landscapes with strictly water efficient plants to landscape
their yards. Then, their gorgeous desert plants will thrive and the
homeowners will be happy. Also, washing ones car at home uses 80140 gallons of water. In order to minimize the amount that water is
wasted, wash cars in gravel or on grass, or go to a professional car
wash where they use less water. Either way, less water is wasted
down the storm drain.

One way that Arizonas Department for Water Resources (ADWR)

is helping with water conservation is by using graywater. Graywater
comes from residential sinks, appliances and drains, and is recycled
and used for landscaping and irrigation systems. This way good useful
water is not simply being washed down the drain. Gray water pipes
can be installed in homes but are not very cost effective. ADWA also
harvests rainwater during monsoon seasons to use later, or in case of
a drought. The process of rain water harvesting is slightly complex and
there are two general methods to collect rainwater. Either a rain barrel
is installed on the side of a persons house, or a collection system runs
underground, involving downspouts that lead to a rainwater tank.
Either way, the benefits are obvious. However, if helping the
environment is not enough motivation for people install a system in
their homes, states such as Texas provide rebates and tax exemptions
for people who install one.
Water in the desert is like liquid gold and every single drop
counts. The Colorado River and the Aqua Fria River will not be able to
sustain the growing population of Arizona for much longer if the state
continues to be wasteful with it. Water is a very valuable resource
necessary for survival, and with so many cost effective ways to cut
back on usage, the only reason people are not saving water at this

point is that they are not educated on water conservation. I plan on

changing that and making a difference for the community.

Works Cited
"ADWR - Statewide Planning/Conservation/Landscape Pros." ADWR Statewide Planning/Conservation/Landscape Pros. N.p., n.d.
Web. 09 Oct. 2014.
"Graywater Recycling System Installation Services." IWS. N.p., n.d.
Web. 09 Oct. 2014.