Tucson City Council has unanimously approved six water conservation and management actions and directed Tucson Water to return with formal proposals later.
In the first, Council directed staff to develop a proposed ban on ornamental “nonfunctional” grass installations in new developments and to develop a plan to phase out those installations in existing developments. The action would primarily apply to businesses and multifamily developments.
Tucson Water has 90 days to deliver the plan, which would not apply to new single-family subdivisions. The measure’s originator – Councilmember Kevin Dahl – exempted single-family homes because lawns are used by residents for recreation and as part of the overall ownership experience. Non-functional uses under the measure will include grass along streets in commercial developments and turf managed by homeowners associations that are not part of recreational areas.
The second item will establish a new rate structure – similar to the one in place for single-family homes – in which businesses will pay higher rates as their water use rises.
Item three sets a public hearing in January to review a proposal that would raise water rates by 5.5% a year between Fiscal Year 2023-2024 and Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
In the fourth item, Tucson Water was given six months to propose ordinances requiring low-use water fixtures and separate irrigation meters for multifamily developments and new businesses.
Item five directs Tucson Water to develop an ordinance requiring rainwater harvesting and other “green infrastructure” in new subdivisions.
Tucson Water said this proposal could actually take 18-24 months to develop.
Lastly, item six gives Tucson Water six months to create an analysis of a “net zero” plan requiring new developments to demonstrate how they will reduce others’ water use so the new development does not increase total water use by the utility. (Source)