Water Conservation Alliance of Southern Arizona

For the past nine years, Water CASA has been gathering exterior and interior water use data from 27 homes in Tucson.  This is part of an ongoing, long-term monitoring of actual water usage by the residents. Funded a decade ago by the U.S Bureau of Reclamation, this is a partnering study with Water CASA, the Bureau, Flowing Wells Irrigation District, and Genessee Corp, the original homebuilder.

Initial findings are reflected in the accompanying chart and indicate:

Average percent of outdoor water use – 20%

Variation in percent of outdoor water use – high: 27%, low: 15%

Average GPCD for these homes – 75

Variation in GPCD – high: 87, low: 66

Water CASA will continue to monitor and report the water use data as they are generated.

Water CASA’s TOILET LEAK DETECTION PROGRAM has given thousands of Southern Arizonans the opportunity to check their toilets for leaks. In this program, completed in 2008 and 2009, Water CASA distributed 61,000 Toilet Leak Detection Kits designed to be included in water bills to member water providers. The kits were purchased with Bureau of Reclamation funds and assembled by Water CASA and University of Arizona students. Water CASA members receiving the kits included Community Water Company of Green Valley, the Town of Marana Water Department, Metropolitan Water District, Oro Valley Water Utility, Flowing Wells Irrigation District, and the Town of Sahuarita.

Toilets are the number one cause of household water leaks, and a silent leak can waste up to 500 gallons of water per day. The Toilet Leak Detection Kits provided by Water CASA include two small strips containing blue dye. The accompanying instructional insert recommends that one strip be dropped in the tank of the toilet and allowed to sit for 15 minutes without flushing. If blue shows up in the toilet bowl and no flushing has occurred, a leak has been detected. The insert also includes a diagram of a typical toilet tank and lists possible causes of leakage.

Toilet Leak Detection Program Press Release

LOWER FLOWS is a program designed to creatively solve sewer capacity problems without the need to replace waste stream infrastructure. Sponsored by the Pima County Wastewater Management Department in 2006–2008 and run by Water CASA, it focuses on reducing sewer flows in areas where the wastewater system is functioning at or above ideal capacity. The LOWER FLOWS program also seeks to promote water conservation in these same targeted areas and aids homeowners in saving money on their sewer and water bills!

LOWER FLOWS Program Components:

• Toilet replacements – up to 2 per household
  • Highly rated HETs (high efficiency toilets): Gerber Ultra Flush 1.1 gpf
• Toilet flapper replacements if a 1.6 gpf toilet is already in place.
• Lavatory faucets aerator replacement.
• Kitchen faucet aerator replacement.
• Showerhead replacement or installation of on/off shower valves.
• Information about the potential for laundry graywater reuse

Because the program’s goal is to lower sewer flows in specific, targeted areas, only certain residents of the Sewell, Mitman and Thunderbird Heights/Wilmot Desert Estates neighborhoods have yet been eligible to participate. Watch for future program areas!

Hands-On Drip Irrigation,
Desert Landscaping,
Water Harvesting,
and more . . .

To find out about current workshops, or if you are interested in having a workshop in your area, contact your water provider.

Registration priority is given to customers of:
Community Water Company of Green Valley, Oro Valley Water Utility, Metro Water District, Town of Marana Water Department and Flowing Wells Irrigation District.

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Pilot Program to Show How Customers’ Water Use Compares to Their Neighbor’s

Project Overview

The Water Conservation Alliance of Southern Arizona (Water CASA) operates on the premise that a knowledgeable customer is an efficient water user. Customers need to know how much water they are using compared to their use last month, for previous months, and for the same month last year. Perhaps even more meaningful, customers need to know how their water use compares to that of their neighbors and others of similar housing and family size. Many Water CASA members do not have the ability to provide information to customers about their water use patterns through the seasons let alone how that usage compares to others. Water CASA is making individual water consumption and conservation information available to member customers on the web. We are piloting this program with Community Water Company of Green Valley (Community Water), one of our founding members, to provide water use information and conservation messages to water customers via the Web. The pilot will run for one year to confirm the effectiveness and the economics of this type of innovative project before bringing it to all member customers.

What this pilot program does:

• Enables customers to review their past and current water usage for comparison through the seasons and from year to year.
• Provides comparative information to the customer about similar customers in their neighborhood and within their water provider’s service area.
• Based upon comparative usage, provide a customized message for that customer e.g.:
  • Single Family HIGH water user – xeriscape, lawn conversion, exterior usage, etc. Multi-Family HIGH water user – leak detection, indoor water usage, etc.
  • Single Family LOW – a THANK YOU and tips on other ways to save indoor and out. Multi-Family LOW – a THANK YOU and tips on other ways to save in the house.

Our goal is to provide water customers with a convenient method to review their monthly water consumption in a comparative format, to enable them to compare their usage with their neighbors and their community as a whole. Water CASA believes this program is an effective and innovate way to promote water conservation; that with this analytical comparison of consumption, customers will increase their water awareness resulting in additional, voluntary water conservation. To view this pilot in reality please go to www.communitywater.com, click on personal consumption histories.

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Water CASA provides its members with a variety of brochures and information pieces that are distributed with a Welcome Packet for new water customers. Water CASA developed and continues to update the literature in the packets. Members distribute more than 300 packets a month to their new customers and also to customers who request conservation information. Water CASA is tracking the water use patterns related to the packets and analyzes the effectiveness of the Welcome Packet program.

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Bulk orders of conservation devices are made for, and divided among the members of Water CASA. This is a good example of Water CASA’s effectiveness in the use of economy of scale. Water CASA is able to purchase conservation devices at the lowest possible price by bulk ordering. In addition, the US Bureau of Reclamation supports this program with $10,000 towards the purchase of these devices including: showerheads and faucet aerators. Conservation devices are included in Welcome Packets for new customers moving into older homes and are also available to water customer on request. Field staff who respond to customer questions or complaints also hand out devices.

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