Water Shortages in Phoenix due to the Drought

According to the official Sky Harbor measuring station, Phoenix has only collected 0.06 inch of rain since June 15. And, while most of the water that we use in the Phoenix area is imported from the Colorado River, that river also supplies over 40 Million people in 6 other states. The problem here is that we’re currently taking more water from the rivers and lakes in a year than is being replenished from the rain runoff. Colorado has seen a below-average runoff in all but three years since 2000 and many of the lakes and reservoirs are less than half full.

The water shortages first affect the farmers who have lower priority than houses and businesses but that still affects us because it raises the costs of food and affects our state’s economy overall. That being said, Phoenix has gotten a lot better over the last few years at using less water but it still isn’t enough.

How You Can Help By Saving Water

Taking steps to save water doesn’t just help the rest of Arizona, it can also help lower your water bill. That should be motivation enough to start cutting back on your water usage. You don’t even need to make drastic changes to your lifestyle or home to make a difference, just try some of these easy tips to lower your water bill:

Tips for Indoor Water Saving

• Check all faucets, pipes, and toilets for leaks.
• Install water saving showerheads and ultra-low-flush toilets.
• Take shorter showers.
• The Comfort System (#1 method) – “Instant” hot water circulation device.
• Never use your toilet as a wastebasket.
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
• Defrost frozen food in the refrigerator rather than in hot water.
• Rinse vegetables in a full sink or pan of water.
• Fully load your dishwasher before running.
• Rinse dishes in a full sink or pan of water.
• Wash full loads of laundry or adjust the water level if your washer has that option.

Tips for Outdoor Water Saving

• Don’t over-water landscaping – you may also consider switching to rock landscape which is quite common in the Phoenix area.
• Water your lawn or garden early in the morning or late in the evening.
• Adjust sprinklers so that they don’t water the sidewalk or street.
• Don’t water on cool, rainy or windy days.
• Equip all hoses with shut-off nozzles.
• Use drip irrigation systems.
• Plant drought-tolerant or low water-use plants and grasses (cacti are always great).
• Use shrubs and ground cover to reduce the amount of grass.
• Place mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and discourage weeds.
• Set your mower blades one notch higher, since longer grass means less evaporation.
• Use a pool cover to cut down on water evaporation.
• Use a bucket instead of a hose to wash your car.
• Use a broom rather than a hose to clean sidewalks, driveways, loading docks and parking lots.

If you’ve noticed that some of your faucets leak, even if just barely, you can reduce your water bill just by having it fixed. Just give us a call at (480) 304-2074 to schedule a free home evaluation.