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News & Events

Mesa Celebrates Wyland National Water Conservation Win

October 13, 2025

On Wednesday, Sept. 10, Mayor Mark Freeman joined Wyland Foundation President and CEO Steve Creech at Kerr Center for Agriscience. They gathered to honor Mesa’s big win in the Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. Mesa earned first place in the 300,000–599,999 population category. It was one of five cities nationwide recognized. This recognition was for achieving the highest …

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Soaking Up Knowledge: Phoenix Educators Dive into Water Conservation

September 15, 2025

This past June, educators from around the Phoenix area gathered for four sessions of the “PHX Water Smart Teaching” program. The program consists of interactive workshops designed by the City of Phoenix Water Services Department’s Water Conservation Office to help Phoenix educators bring water conservation education into their classrooms. What is Water Smart Teaching? Water Smart Teaching is not only …

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Fall Planting with ‘Water – Plant It Wisely’

September 4, 2025

The Fall Planting Season is Here! The fall planting season has arrived (really!), and cooler temps make it the perfect time to get your landscape back in shape. Maybe you lost a few plants during the record-hot summer, or maybe you’re ready to swap out high-water-use plants for water-thrifty ones. Either way, fall is the season to dig in! Water …

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Five Mistakes That Harm Your Landscape During the Summer

July 7, 2025

Are you looking for ways to help your trees and plants thrive under the intense heat of the desert summer sun? Desert-adapted plants are naturally suited for this climate, but they do require some additional care during the summer months to truly flourish. Many enthusiasts unknowingly make changes that can be detrimental to their trees and plants. Here are five …

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Less Grass Mow Money! Tucson’s New Commercial & Multifamily Customer Incentives

June 17, 2025

More Water Conservation Help is Here for Commercial & Multifamily Customers! Tucson Water has had a robust conservation program for residential customers since the late 1990s, offering free water conservation kits; high-efficiency toilet, clothes washer, gray water, and rainwater harvesting rebates and, in some cases, free toilet replacements and emergency repairs for qualifying customers! Commercial and multifamily customers have also …

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Plant of the Month: Desert Milkweed – Fit for a Queen and Other Royals

June 9, 2025

Botanical Name Asclepias subulata Common Names Desert Milkweed, Jumete, Rush Milkweed, Reed-stem Milkweed Habitat / Range Desert milkweed is often found along desert washes and sandy flats, and sometimes on rocky hillsides in lowlands up to 2,500 feet.  It will settle into disturbed soils, so can be found along roadsides as well. The range of desert milkweed extends from western …

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Desert Milkweed Plants

A Splash of Art, A Drop of Conservation – Wayne Drop’s Sticker Contest Recap

May 27, 2025

      Hey friends! Wayne Drop here – your favorite water-saving hero with some exciting news.This spring, I got to be the star of the 2025 “Save Water with Wayne Drop” Sticker Contest, and let me tell you… I was totally blown away by the amazing designs from fourth graders all across Arizona!         A Flood …

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Do You Have a Water Leak? Well, I Did!

May 15, 2025

Large Water Bill?  Imagine my surprise when I opened my water bill to discover that my household water use went from 3,000 gallons to 7,000 gallons! To put this in perspective, an in-ground small swimming pool holds approximately 10,000 gallons of water. The first step I did to determine if I had a leak was to make sure nothing inside …

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April = Celebrations of Nature & Water

March 17, 2025

Spring is in the air, and so is the spirit of water conservation! This April, Water – Use It Wisely is gearing up for several exciting events that highlight the importance of water-saving efforts. A variety of activities – from Water Awareness Month to Earth Day to Arbor Day – means that there are plenty of opportunities to have fun …

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Breaking Down Water Terminology: A Glossary for Everyday Use

February 20, 2025

A water terminology guide to enhance understanding of this essential resource! The water world is complex, diverse, and rich in terminology, which can confuse anyone who isn’t immersed in it regularly. When discussing anything about water—such as water quality, sources and supplies, management and policies, and the delivery and quality of your water—you’ll likely encounter acronyms and terms that sound …

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Perfect for Gift Giving: Our Top Desert Gardening Books

December 13, 2024

Why we need books by local experts! One thing is certain when it comes to gardening books and magazines . . . gardening in the deserts of the Southwest is far different than in all other regions of the country. For that reason, most books, national magazines, and even those AP stories (that the local newspaper will occasionally publish) just …

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Gardening Books

Explore Arizona’s Xeriscape Demonstration Gardens

November 12, 2024

Holiday Wanderlust: Take Festive Nature Walks and Get Sustainable Inspiration As the temperatures cool down and the holidays approach, it’s time to gather with family and friends, including out-of-town guests. Going for a nature walk is a wonderful way to work off those scrumptious home-cooked holiday meals or gourmet dishes from your favorite neighborhood restaurants! You can find local botanical …

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