New Water-Saving Policies and Actions

In response to rapidly changing climate conditions and a call to action to preserve water levels in Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the City of Tucson is taking new steps to conserve additional water for the Colorado River Basin and our desert home.

In 2022, the City of Tucson Mayor and Council directed staff to research and develop new water conservation policies to minimize the amount of new water needed in our community. Currently, these new ordinances are being drafted for Mayor and Council consideration:

-Installing EPA-certified WaterSense fixtures in all new homes and buildings

-Designating separate irrigation meters for new commercial and multifamily developments

-Integrating low-impact practices for new development

-Creating a water offset program for new development

-Ensuring no new installation of ornamental turf and removing existing ornamental turf

Regionally, the City has joined more than 25 Basin water providers in a signed agreement that commits to additional conservation actions: expanding indoor and outdoor efficiency programs, reducing ornamental turf, increasing water reuse and recycling, and more.

Behind the Scenes

Find out more about what the City is doing to reduce irrigated ornamental grass areas (not providing functional use) and replacing them with drought- and climate-adapted landscapes. The goal: save water while reducing decorative grass areas along streets in front of businesses, shopping centers, and businesses. This program does not apply to the grassy areas at your home!

Find & Fix Leaks - Save up to 10,000 Gallons a Year

Drip. Drip. Drip. The average household can waste 180 gallons of water a week from leaks, adding up to 10,000 gallons in a year (the amount of water needed to wash 300 loads of laundry). Celebrating national Fix a Leak Week, March 20-26, focuses on actions to prevent water loss at home. Here are some ways to detect leaks:   

-Check for any unusually high spikes in your water bill

-Learn to read your meter at tucsonaz.gov/water/how-to-read-your-meter-and-detect-leaks

-Go to epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week to take the 10-minute WaterSense Challenge

-Learn how installing a flow monitoring device on your meter or service line can catch leaks early. Go to tucsonaz.gov/water/flow-devices  

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