The importance of being water aware in our arid climate

It goes without saying that water is a vital resource. Here in Arizona, it’s essential to understand water's critical role, especially in our arid climate, as we must realize that our daily choices affect our collective future. That is why being more water aware will ensure we continue building the foundation for sustainable growth and a thriving economy while embracing a water-efficient lifestyle to stretch our precious water supplies further.

With the arrival of April, we celebrate Water Awareness Month , a perfect opportunity to learn more about water management and the importance of conservation in Arizona so we can all be a bit more water aware.

Responsible water management is critical to our resiliency.

We live in the desert, so extreme heat, limited precipitation, and decades of extra arid conditions that stress water supplies are not unexpected. That is why the cities methodically plan years in advance, enabling us to weather times of prolonged drought and face shortages with confidence.

Wise water use is a vital part of long-term planning in the desert - the well-being of our local communities and economy depends on it. The cities have invested in building diverse water portfolios , underground water storage , infrastructure , and conservation programs for decades. That effective water management and efficient water use are why the AMWUA cities utilize only 11 percent of Arizona’s water despite servicing more than half of the state’s population.

Water fuels our economy, and sound water management has ensured our success as a State, yet those efforts are far from over. Water utilities continually plan and work to provide safe, reliable, and sustainable water supplies for today and the future. Some of those ongoing efforts include the following:

• enhancing water loss control programs
• investing in infrastructure to ensure the resiliency of their water system
• expanding customer outreach and conservation programs
• pursuing new opportunities for water recycling
• investigating water augmentation opportunities in Arizona
   

Conservation safeguards our water now and for future generations.

With growing pressures on our water, embracing water conservation has never been more crucial than it is now. Being efficient with our water is up to all of us , and being more aware of how we use it is important. A collective commitment to using water responsibly must exist across the entire state – residential, municipal, commercial, industrial, and agricultural. Together, we can safeguard our water supplies.

Most people aren’t aware that Arizona has mandated conservation in the state’s most populated areas for over 40 years. Water providers, industrial water users, and agriculture must meter all connections, report their water use annually, and achieve increasingly rigorous conservation requirements.

The AMWUA cities implement more than 300 best management practices to meet those requirements and fulfill their long-term water management goals. For more than 35 years, the AMWUA cities and partners have worked together to build shared conservation resources and programs . Each city has dedicated conservation staff  and rebates , resources, and programs tailored specifically to provide valuable information, tools, and assistance to help everyone use water wisely. These conservation programs have offered residents and businesses the tools and knowledge to use water efficiently – indoors and outside.

So, while we hope you embrace the fact that we can all make a difference by being more water aware this month, recognizing that making small changes every single day over the entire year is just as important. After all, the availability and quality of our water supply are critical to every aspect of our life and our state’s sustainability.

Since 2008, the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and water conservation partners from around the state, including the AMWUA cities, have celebrated Water Awareness Month (WAM) every April. This year, a WAM Festival will take place on Saturday, April 6th, from 10 am – 2 pm at the Arizona State Capitol – Wesley Bolin Plaza. More information is available HERE .

To print or save this week's blog, a PDF version is available HERE .

For 55 years, the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association has helped protect our member cities' ability to provide their communities with assured, safe, and sustainable water supplies. For more information, visit www.amwua.org .