By Cathy Rymer, Chandler Water Conservation Coordinator

In 2012, 199 Chandler water audit participants saved over 10 million gallons of water after following advice from the city’s water conservation staff. That’s a lot of water and it also means hundreds of dollars saved by residents.

A water audit is simply a free on-site evaluation of water-using fixtures, hardware, equipment, landscaping, and management practices to determine the efficiency of your home’s water use. Once an audit is requested a Chandler Water Conservation Specialist will tour the property to show how you can locate leaks and learn practical ways to repair them.  You’ll even receive money-saving rebate and incentive information. Best of all, your appointment can be conveniently scheduled M-F between 6:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

This citywide program is offered free-of-charge to Chandler water customers. A separate program for HOA’s and commercial properties also is available and includes preparation of a water budget to help determine landscape water efficiency. The results of eight water budgets tracked in 2012 resulted in estimated savings of 7,963,000 gallons.  Conservation programs such as water audits recently garnered Chandler recognition from NerdWallet, a consumer advocacy website out of San Francisco (http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/2013/cities-with-innovative-green-initiatives).

Other water-saving programs include high water use notification post cards sent to residents who used more than twice as much water as the month before. This proactive approach helps catch leaks as soon as possible.  In 2012 more than 1.5 million gallons were saved due to this program.  The landscape conversion rebate program provided rebates for the removal of unused grass areas replaced with desert adapted plants.  Residents saw a 25 percent reduction in their landscape water use due to conversions in 2012 or a total of 1.3 million gallons. Non-residential conversions had an estimated savings of 472,700 gallons in 2012.

The use of smart irrigation controllers also produces significant water savings.  Besides receiving a rebate of up to $250, non-residential customers saved an average of 717,872 gallons per year. Residents also saw reductions in their water use with average annual savings of 31,681 gallons.

Tucson Water and utilities across Arizona and the nation are promoting “Fix a Leak Week,” March 18 through March 24, 2013, as a time to bring attention to the amount of water lost through minor household leaks. Water loss through leaks exceeds one trillion gallons annually in America.

Tucson Water’s “Fix a Leak Week” web page at www.tucsonaz.gov/water/fix-leak-week offers the “Homeowners’ Guide to Using Water Wisely” booklet free by mail and downloadable learning activities for children. The page also has links to online tools for measuring home water use and calculating the impact of drips and leaks, and to videos on making simple household repairs, thanks to the Scottsdale Water Resources Department.

Mayor Jonathan Rothschild will issued a proclamation at the March 19 meeting of the Mayor and Council that encourages residents and businesses to be water wise and monitor for possible water waste.

“Due to the conservation rate structure used by Tucson Water, the water billing portion of a customer’s utility statement will rise dramatically when a leaking toilet flapper or faucets is left unchecked for a period of time,” said Fernando Molina, Tucson Water Public Information Officer. “While we offer some resources, customers should consult experts at local plumbing supply and home improvement stores for guidance on repairs and the right tools for the job.”

Check out this letter that Chandler Municipal Utilities Director, Dave Siegel, received in early January from a resident. It is regarding some assistance the resident received from one of Dave’s employees who works as a Utility Systems Operator in our Wastewater Collection Division.

Job well done!