Archive for “water conservation” Tag

News & Events

Eight Ways to Make Your Home More Sustainable

December 11, 2019

We asked an Arizona energy and building expert – John Wesley Miller of Tucson – to suggest eight sensible ideas for how to make your home more sustainable. As an award-winning builder and solar pioneer, Miller has been a national leader in energy conservation and green building ideas. He also champions the concept of “universal accessibility” – building homes that …

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Celebrating 20 Years with our Top 20 Water-Saving Resources

December 5, 2019

We are very excited to share with our readers that this year, Water – Use It Wisely celebrated its 20th anniversary of helping Arizonans save water with a variety of water-saving resources. What began in 1999 as a joint effort between Mesa, Phoenix, and Scottsdale to launch a water conservation campaign is now one of the largest conservation movements of …

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Brewing Done Sustainably

November 7, 2019

Scottsdale Water was issued Arizona’s first permit for direct use of recycled water. One Water Brewing Showcase at Canal Convergence helped showcase the purity of advanced treated recycled water. During the week of September 12, 2019, the Advanced Water Treatment Plant at the Scottsdale Water Campus became the state’s first – and one of only three in the nation – …

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Through the Lens of Art: Water=Life Project Celebrates our Relationship with Water

October 31, 2019

As with many artistic processes, the preparation and development of the work are just as important as the finished product; it’s the learning and discovery along the way that brings the piece to fruition. With this work of art, in particular, the process has been intentional, collaborative, and generative. As the culminating art installation nears, the hope of the artists …

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Imagine A Day Without Water With Our Resident Vandweller

October 23, 2019

In celebration of Imagine A Day Without Water, we profiled Zack – a man who lives every day with hardly any water. Zack lives in a van. While Zack’s van is not down by the river, his lifestyle provides a great lesson on water conservation and the impact of living minimally. Zack became a vandweller in July 2019 as a …

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Plant of the Month – Groundcover: Green Makes A Better Carpet Than Gravel

September 11, 2019

Some professional landscapers suggest homeowners design sections of their landscape as they would design each room in their home. This image helps homeowners give their yards dimension with layers of color and texture. Imagine vines as window coverings, group trees and shrubs as if they were furniture, and use groundcover plants as carpeting–a far better carpet than just having gravel. …

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Bear Grass use in landscape

Making the Most of the Water in Your Home

August 20, 2019

Water is an important part of your daily home routine: from washing and bathing to cooking and cleaning, water plays an integral part in most homes across the country. You can take a few small measures to ensure that the water in your home is conserved, used correctly, and not damaging anything inside. From water leaks to water conservation, we’ll …

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Is 24,000 gallons of water per month too much for a family of three?

August 12, 2019

When in doubt, ask. Here are an interesting question and answer about home water use that I think all homeowners can take advantage of. You asked … I have a concern about high water usage. We have lots of mature landscaping, but artificial turf (no grass), a fairly large pool, hot tub, three full baths, and a 1/2 bath. There …

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Queen Creek Showcases Water Conservation at Library

July 2, 2019

On average, how much water do you think a person uses each day? If you guessed 120 gallons … you are correct! That figure alone may not be very impressive, but when standing in front of a 16-foot-tall tower equaling 120 gallons, it becomes much more impactful! During the month of July, you can visit the Water – Use It …

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Queen Creek: This little guy is very happy to be at the library!

Water Conservation Matters and It’s In Your Hands

May 28, 2019

When you stare out at the ocean or turn on your kitchen faucet, it’s easy to believe that water is an infinite resource. The truth is that clean drinking water is very limited. In fact, only one percent of the water on earth is suitable for human consumption. Sadly, this water is being polluted so quickly that it is difficult …

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Celebrate AZ Water: American Wetlands Month

May 24, 2019

This month, we are celebrating American Wetlands Month! When you think of wetlands you might think of marshlands like the Louisiana Delta or the Florida Everglades. What might surprise you is that we do have wetlands in the Arizona desert. Some are natural and some are manmade. What is a Wetland? Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil or …

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Plant of the Month: Chuparosa | Plants for Birds – Part 2

April 16, 2019

The Hummingbird’s Choice Award goes to … Chuparosa! If Arizona’s hummingbirds could vote on a state flower, it would be Chuparosa (Justicia californica). A mainstay of most wildlife gardens, this long-suffering desert beauty asks little and gives much.  It can be grown long and lanky, spindly branches vining into trees — or pruned to take on a more civilized appearance. …

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