Statewide

Conservation Innovator

City of Glendale

City of Glendale: Youth Education Encourages Community Involvement

In 2005, the Glendale Water Conservation Office made a commitment to update and enhance its youth education program. The focus was on integrating youth education with opportunities for broader community involvement and outreach.

The initial project, Art in the Garden, received the 2006 Governor’s Pride Award from Arizona Clean and Beautiful and an Award of Merit for Environmental Excellence from the Valley Forward Association. The project provided a multi-generational learning experience by integrating art making with water education. More than 250 youth and adult participants were involved in making water conservation-themed artwork come to life. Their collective efforts resulted in the creation of two permanent sculptures, entitled “The Blue Planet” and “The Watershed” and a 20-foot wall entitled, “Desert Plant and Animal Adaptations.” The functional and enduring artwork, located at the Glendale Xeriscape Demonstration Garden, demonstrates the importance of responsible water use for present and future generations.

In 2006 the water conservation office received a two-year grant from the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to develop a youth education program, called Water Watchers. The program uses Community-Based Social Marketing (CBSM) methods to develop and evaluate all phases of the program. CBSM focuses on removing the barriers that prevent people from adopting behaviors, while simultaneously enhancing the benefits of the behavior. A presentation on the program methodology was provided at the Water Conservation Info-Share, a state-wide gathering of water conservation professionals.

In May of 2007, the first phase of the Water Watchers program was completed. Initial feedback from participating teachers has been very positive. One teacher wrote, "I couldn't believe how organized everything was. There wasn't a single activity that my students did not enjoy. Awesome program!" The program also received enthusiastic support from the school districts, principals and parents. More than 68% of the parents assisted their children with a take-home water audit assignment. Participating parents received water conserving devices for their homes.

Past Conservation Innovators

City of Surprise

The city of Surprise, in partnership with Arizona American Water are stepping up their efforts for water conservation through the Arizona Rinse Smart Program . These two entities will be the next participants in the Arizona Rinse Smart retrofit Program for restaurants.

The city of Surprise takes its commitment to water conservation seriously. For example, the city has been pilot-testing water efficient toilets in the City Hall complex. One type is a pressure assisted toilet and the other is a “dual flush” toilet. These toilets are considered ultra low flow where the user can select the amount of water to be used for efficient waste removal (0.08 gallons per flush for liquid waste and 1.6 gpf for solid waste). Furthermore, Surprise is partnering with Arizona American Water, and other water providers, to establish a practical drought planning effort to be implemented by January 2008. They also offer water conservation educational programs at local elementary schools, public events, neighborhood block parties, and through quarterly classes on low-water landscaping and proper watering techniques. Later this year, the city will introduce a new water conservation mascot to feature at public and school-related events. www.surpriseaz.com

Arizona American Water is keeping their Water Conservation Program “Save H2O” in the forefront of their efforts as a water company. The Arizona “SAVEH2O” license plate is recognized throughout the state of Arizona. This logo symbolizes the on-going commitment that Arizona American Water has made to water conservation in the state of Arizona. The “SAVEH2O” program includes free home water audits and conservation kits to assist customers with their conservation efforts. Arizona American Water also provides a speakers bureau to discuss water resources and conservation issues with local community groups, education programs to schools within our service areas, bill inserts with conservation tips and a conservation website www.saveh2oarizona.com

City of Sedona

The City of Sedona is hosting its annual Water Awareness Month during April 2007. The City of Sedona, the Sedona is Water Wise Alliance and many other local groups are involved in planning this annual event. There will be a month long series of events including Native Plant Workshops hosted by Keep Sedona Beautiful and Water Forums hosted by Sustainable Arizona. The Sedona is Water Wise Alliance is planning to launch new water efficiency programs for the food service industry in coordination with the Arizona Department of Water Resources during the months of March and April. Check out the City of Sedona website for more news regarding April Water Awareness Month: Sedona, Arizona

City of Kingman The City of Kingman received several pre-rinse spray valves initially from the ADWR and the response has been so great, they have now requested more valves. Kingman is leading the way to better water efficiency within Mohave County through their implementation of this program.
The owner of the KFC/Long John Silvers is Kyle Ogden (on the right) and Dean Wolslagel, Water Conservation Coordinator, City of Kingman. Dean is handing Kyle a pre rinse spray valve.		The address of the facility is 2302 Hualapai Mtn Rd Kingman.
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Town of Payson

The Arizona Department of Water Resources is proud to announce that the Town of Payson is the second community to launch the Arizona Rinse Smart Program. The Arizona Rinse Smart program was developed by ADWR to promote water efficiency to the food service industry through the use of the best available water conservation technologies. The Bureau of Reclamation has established a collaborative partnership with the ADWR in an effort to bring this program to rural Arizona.

The program will consist of the replacement of high water use, low-pressure pre-rinse spray nozzles with low water use, high pressure pre-rinse spray valves. The restaurant industry is a hard-to-reach consumer base for water conserving products. However, the industry is a prime focus for water conservation since often as much as two-thirds of the water use for restaurants occurs in the dishwashing process.

In some cases, almost one-half of the water use can be tied to inefficient spray nozzles. Standard nozzles use twice as much water as the newer higher-pressure nozzles.

Typically, these nozzles are used to remove loose food particles prior to dishes and trays being placed in industrial dishwashers. When older nozzles are replaced, restaurants can achieve both water and energy savings. Results from other programs have shown water savings for small restaurants averaging at 50,000 gallons per year.

The Town of Payson has other water conservation compliance orders for its residents. Artificial turf, waterless urinals and strict outdoor and indoor watering rules have reduced their town's gallons per capita per day (GPCD) water usage to the low 80s. We commend Town of Payson for their innovative approach to water conservation and their model example of overall water use.

Aztec Elementary School of Scottsdale

Mrs. Laaks second and third grade class at Aztec Elementary School of Scottsdale raised $138 for the Arizona Water Protection Fund by making and selling water conservation bookmarks and stickers.

The school donated the money on March 31st.

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The project stemmed from a water-education unit Mrs. Laaks was teaching to the second and third grade class. The class hung posters around the school, 13636 N. 100th St., to advertise and share water saving tips with the rest of the students and teachers.

The students also developed a slide show on water conservation that displays on the school’s TV channel. At the beginning of each school day, students broadcast a “water saving tip” announcement after the Pledge of Allegiance.

Great job Aztec Elementary School for your help to conserve Arizona’s most precious resource!

SCA Tissue, Flagstaff, AZ

Winner of a 2005 Governor’s Arizona Clean and Beautiful Award

CONGRATULATIONS to the City of Flagstaff and SCA Tissue North America! The City of Flagstaff Water Conservation Office successfully nominated a local paper mill, SCA Tissue North America, for the 2005 Governor’s Arizona Clean & Beautiful Award. The nomination was based on the company’s demonstration of environmental stewardship through the implementation of an innovative water conservation project using reclaimed water. The paper manufacturing facility has been Flagstaff’s second largest potable water user for many years before being converted to 100% reclaimed water in 2005. This conversion effort is now the city’s largest water conservation project resulting in a potable water savings of more than 100 million gallons per year. An additional benefit is achieved through the wastewater treatment process. Wastewater from the paper mill is treated by the City of Flagstaff and then sent back to the paper mill fulfilling almost 70% of the mill’s reclaimed water demand. This impressive closed loop system is an excellent example of an Industrial Conservation Innovator and a water conservation effort that the City of Flagstaff should be very proud of.