Water Conservation Alliance of Southern Arizona

The Water Conservation Alliance of Southern Arizona
Releases A Statement of Outdoor Water Use IDEALS:

WATER CASA URGES SOUTHERN ARIZONANS “NO LAWN JUST FOR LOOKS” AND LET NATURE DO THE WATERING

TUCSON (April 10, 2008) – The Water Conservation Alliance of Southern Arizona (Water CASA) has responded to the continued drought and projections of worsening water shortages by releasing a Statement of Outdoor Water Use IDEALS.

In this updated version of the IDEALS, Water CASA calls for Arizonans to plant natives wherever possible, and to maintain grass “only for physical, functional use”, as in play spaces, stressing “No Lawn Just for Looks”.

The Statement of Outdoor Water Use IDEALS also calls for local residents and businesses to refine their irrigation practices. The Statement favors manual rather than scheduled irrigation timers. One section, entitled “Rely on Mother Nature as the Primary Irrigator” states that irrigation should occur only to establish new plants, and would ideally cease within three years in all but the most extreme cases. Also called for by Water CASA’s IDEALS is the increased use of reclaimed water, graywater and harvested rainwater.

“Water CASA's Board continues to focus its efforts on more efficient use of our resources, thinking in terms of IDEALS rather than requirements,” says Water CASA Director, Val Little of Water CASA's decision to release the statement. “A set of ideals is something for the region to strive for.”

Click here to open a printable pdf of these ideals