Phoenix remains in a regional period of drought that has lasted 10 years. The good news is that snow pack in the past year has improved reservoir levels. That snow, not Valley rain, supplies most of our tap water as it travels from far north and east of the Valley to Phoenix treatment plants, then to your tap.

So, even though it has been dry in the Valley, Phoenix will not need to impose mandatory water use restrictions for several years, and that’s only if the Colorado, Salt and Verde Rivers’ watersheds receive little rain and snow for a number of years in a row. However, that doesn’t mean we can stop saving water. Wise indoor and especially outdoor water use remains an important part of making sure that our water supply continues to meet our needs.

Wise Planning Pays Off

Why is Phoenix faring so well compared to other parts of Arizona and the Southwest? The answer is: a hundred years of sure-handed water management by Phoenix and Arizona.

According to Phoenix’s Land Use, Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee Chairman, Councilman Claude Mattox, “Phoenix diversified its water portfolio long ago and amended City Code to promote reuse of water and water conservation. Phoenix has been way ahead of the drought curve for decades and continues to plan for the future. Along with monitoring usage and working with its water partners, Phoenix continues to adopt higher water supply standards, improve groundwater capacity to supplement its surface water supply, and expand the use of highly treated wastewater, or reclaimed water, which saves on drinking water.”

However, over the last four years, central Arizona has experienced weather conditions that have wildly varied between record-breaking dry and wet years. One of the wettest years of recorded history was 2005. But the Salt River Project, Phoenix’s main water supplier, estimates that 2006 will be the driest year in recorded history. Even so, total SRP reservoir storage is relatively high, more than 70 percent compared to approximately 42 percent in February 2004. A reliable supply of Central Arizona Project water from the Colorado River also makes up a large portion of Phoenix’s tap water.

Lack of Valley rain is having an impact on water use. While Phoenix customers have increasingly adopted a low water use lifestyle, water use for the past five months has been steadily increasing over the average water consumption of the previous four years. In January 2006, customer water use was approximately 13 percent above the four-year January average. Water conservation needs to remain a part of our everyday lifestyle, as Phoenix meets increasing demands during dry weather.

Managed Growth and Water Supply Plans Go Hand-in-Hand

Phoenix’s Drought Management Plan, Water Resources Plan and Enhanced Water Conservation Strategy each build upon a legacy of wise water management and take into account effective growth management. According to Assistant Water Services Director Ray Quay, “Continued wise growth management by Phoenix is critical to ensuring future water supplies. Our economy stagnates without growth, so Phoenix uses developer’s fees to help pay for new water infrastructure and supplies, so existing customers don’t foot the bill for growth. Phoenix also will be looking at our various development codes to insure they reflect the state of the art for low water use devices and practices.”

This past year, Phoenix rigorously analyzed drought scenarios that exceed the state’s 100-year sustainable water supply requirement. That resulted in a Water Resources Plan that sets an even higher water supply standard even during long term drought. To implement this standard, Phoenix has initiated several programs, including enhancing its 25-year-old award-winning water conservation public awareness program that urges joining Phoenix government by adopting a water conservation lifestyle.

Phoenix also initiated an effort to improve groundwater capacity. Currently, the city has substantial reserves of groundwater, but uses very little of it to meet customers’ normal water needs. These groundwater reserves will play a critical role if our supplies from the Colorado, Salt and Verde Rivers are reduced as a result of long term drought.

Additionally, Phoenix will expand its use of highly treated wastewater, or reclaimed water, for agriculture, parks, a cemetery and golf courses in various parts of the city. Simply stated, Phoenix is working to ensure that our grandchildren can live in the desert even during times of long-term drought.

Phoenix’s Multiple Water Sources and Conservation Efforts Keep Water Flowing

Although Phoenix is on track to continue meeting customer needs during extended drought, other parts of Arizona may not be as fortunate. According to Councilman Mattox, “Phoenix is in a unique position. We’re able to capture water during wet years and use it during the dry years.

Other parts of Arizona made very different decisions about their water supply years ago and rely more heavily on shallow groundwater supplies or storage systems that are much more susceptible to dry cycles. Phoenix’s foresight and use of surface, ground and reclaimed water allow for a redundancy of supply that, along with water conservation, protects our customers during times of drought.”

So join the city of Phoenix and help save this precious natural resource. Don’t plant turf just for decoration. Don’t kill native plants by over-watering them. Learn how your landscape watering system works. And, invest in a swimming pool cover to prevent evaporation.

Wise planning and responsible water use ensures our future water supply. So think about water…every time you use it…and use it responsibly. With your help, Phoenix will have the water it needs, but not enough to waste.

For information on Phoenix’s water supply and drought, visit phoenix.gov/WATER/drtmain.html. Customers also can learn a wealth of conservation information from the Web site wateruseitwisely.com, or by e-mailing the city of Phoenix’s Water Conservation Office.