Water Resources and Conservation FAQs
When managing water use in your home or your business, it's important to get the facts.
The City keeps on top of the latest water conservation strategies and technologies through partnerships with Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE); EPA's WaterSense; American Water Works Association (AWWA); and Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA).
We also are in your schools with teacher-approved water science curriculum, helping Phoenix students learn about water conservation and water resources.
Do I have a responsibility to save water?
We all have a responsibility to conserve our natural resources. The water we all share in Phoenix keeps our city, families and businesses thriving. With a little extra effort, water conservation can become a "Phoenix way of life." Efficient water use yields many benefits including time, money and energy savings.
Learning how to save water in your home and your business is easy. The City has put easy-to-follow resources at your fingertips for outdoor and indoor savings.
Why doesn't Phoenix give rebates to encourage customers to reduce water use?
The Arizona Department of Water Resources sets conservation goals for each water provider with a timeframe to reach the required reductions. Through good management practices and the water conservation efforts by our customers, Phoenix has reached these goals without financial incentives. Phoenix's residential gallons per capita per day (GPCD) use of water has fallen roughly 30% over the last twenty years. Phoenix customers are using less water than in 1996, despite adding 360,000 residents.
The Phoenix Water Conservation office actively supports this downward trend in water demand by providing public awareness and education programs. Phoenix residents understand the importance of water conservation in a desert city, but focus groups and public surveys reveal a need for more practical water conservation information. Phoenix funds programs such as
Water - Use It Wisely, and provides adult and K-12 education. These programs teach residents
how to use water responsibly and care for the watersheds that support our water resources. Phoenix has had a Water Conservation office for nearly 30 years.
Phoenix continues to closely monitor water use to forecast demand trends, which is pivotal to developing a water conservation program that effectively and efficiently guides water use in homes, businesses and landscaping. While incentives such as rebates have not been necessary due to residents voluntary adoption of conservation measures, Phoenix could adopt them in the future. Phoenix residents have done an excellent job voluntarily adopting to a desert lifestyle, this increases water efficiency without Phoenix having to pay residents to do so.
How much water does my lawn need?
How much water a lawn needs varies from house to house and season to season. Factors that affect how much water should be used on grass include; the efficiency of the irrigation system, the type of soil at your home and the type of grass in your yard. Phoenix offers a free guide, "Landscape Watering by the Numbers" which has information about proper watering. An online version is available at Water - Use It Wisely, or a copy can be ordered at the Literature & Media section of this web site, as well as other helpful landscape and irrigation brochures.
Draining my pool seems wasteful, what should I do?
To save water, pool draining should be infrequent (every five years plus years). Keeping chemicals in balance helps you avoid wasteful dumping of water. However, when you must drain a pool follow City guidelines by
discharging water into sewer cleanouts. There are also new technologies that will clean calcium and other contaminants from the water and recycle the water back into the pool. Information about these services is available at pool supply stores (contact a Valley pool professional for safe draining strategies).
Why do I see grass in Phoenix parks and golf courses?
Municipal parks, golf courses and open spaces provide Phoenix residents and visitors with opportunities for fun and recreation. State-of-the-art monitoring systems are being used, when possible, to ensure a high level of efficiency in irrigation watering.
Take advantage of neighborhood parks and open spaces as an opportunity to replace the maintenance of grass in your own home or business. You'll have more time for friends, family and visitors!
Where do I go for information on water quality?
Each year Phoenix is required to publish an annual water quality report.
Learn more about Phoenix's water quality or find a report. Also, visit our salinity page for comprehensive information about how salinity impacts water resources.
Who do I call regarding bad taste, color odor or low water pressure?
Call Customer Service at (602)262-6251.
Where can I get more answers?
Visit the literature & media page to order informational literature that will assist in a better understanding of water conservation, and help you save water and money.
What can I do when I see water waste?
You can report water waste by calling 602-262-6251.
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