Water Conservation Starts with You

On March 20, 2003, Governor Janet Napolitano signed Executive Order 2003-12, establishing the Arizona Drought Task Force. Part of the Executive Order calls for the development and implementation of a “statewide water conservation education strategy that emphasizes educational advertising for good water habit development.”

One of the goals in the recently adopted Camp Verde General Plan is: ‘Encourage and Promote Water Conservation and the Reuse of Water.” In keeping with that goal and in support of the Arizona Drought Task Force goal of educating the public, the Town offers the following winter water conservation tips:

• Winterize outdoor spigots when temperatures drop to 20^o F to prevent pipes from bursting or freezing.

• Insulate hot water pipes so you don’t have to run as much water to get hot water to the faucet.

• Adjust your watering schedule to the season. Water your winter lawn every fifth day.

• Bermuda grasses are dormant in the winter and will only require water once every three to four weeks or less if it rains.

Year-round water conservation tips include:

• Direct downspouts and other runoff towards shrubs and trees, or collect and use for your garden.

• Designate one glass for your drinking water each day to cut down on the number of times you run your dishwasher.

• Turn off the water while you shampoo and condition your hair to save up to 50 gallons of water a week.

• Wash clothes only when you have a full load to save up to 600 gallons of water a month.

• Soak your pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.

• Choose water-efficient drip irrigation for your trees, shrubs, and flowers. Watering roots is so effective, be careful not to over-water.

For additional water saving tips and information about water conservation, visit the Arizona Department of Water Resources website; www.water.az.gov/adwr and the Water Use It Wisely campaign.