Phoenix officials are working on a pilot program to introduce water efficiency regulations on new developments as part of the rezoning process. The new regulations could become part of the City code by the fall.
Planning staff is meeting with development stakeholders to determine the best practices that arise from those stipulations and plan to propose a code amendment this summer.
Single-family residential is the largest water user by category, according to City officials, with a volume totaling slightly more than half of Phoenix’s total use. A third of the total comes from outdoor water use. When multifamily and single-family are factored together, total residential use accounts for two-thirds of the volume.
Few details have been provided as to what specific restrictions could be implemented. One possibility discussed by staff in a recent City Council subcommittee meeting included bans on “nonpractical” turf that is not regularly walked on. Research has shown that replacing turf with xeriscape desert landscaping can save approximately 55 gallons of water/SF/year.
Other items under consideration include mandating water-efficient appliances and fixtures.
Discussions between development representatives and City staff are expected to start in approximately one month, and pilot stipulations could begin showing up in zoning cases after that. Stipulations can be added on a case-by-case basis in the interim, as happened with two development cases last year.
In addition to focusing on new developments, staff is also working to develop a rebate program to incentivize homeowners to retrofit toilets for improved water efficiency.
Also on the water-saving front, Phoenix implemented an efficiency program last year to educate homeowners about reducing water usage, particularly for landscaping. Projections at the time estimated a potential annual savings of 140 million gallons. Staff is currently working to collect data and analyze the actual post-implementation water savings. (Source)