Tempe Water Conservation and Efficiency Non-Residential eNewsletter
October Topics: Drought updates, planning for 2023 landscape projects, and water conservation Youth Education Program offerings.

Drought Update

Click to access Tempe's local drought response video located on YouTube

On Aug. 16, 2022, the Bureau of Reclamation declared a Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) Tier 2a shortage for 2023. Tempe currently remains in Stage 0 – Watch of the Drought Preparedness Plan (DPP), and due to the continued minor impact to Tempe’s supplies, there is no plan to modify this response at this time. Tempe, along with many valley cities, recognizes that the ongoing drought on the Colorado River is serious and continues to plan strategically for a future with less Colorado River water. Water conservation and efficiency are vital to a sustainable future here in the desert, and practical water-wise lifestyle changes will impact the community’s water future. 

Here are five ways residents can be part of the solution:

Learn where and how water is used by visiting your WaterSmart portal.

- Log in here to request a Water Consultation

Find and fix visible and hidden leaks indoors and out by visiting tempe.gov/leaks.

Water the yards efficiently by following landscape watering guidelines.

Consider whether to overseed (plant winter grass) and learn about functional and non-functional turf by reading our Neighbor Spotlight below.

Transform yards into a desert-adapted landscape, and consider applying for Water Conservation rebates and incentives.

City of Tempe Water Waste Ordinance

The City of Tempe has a Water Waste Ordinance intended to capture the accidental or non-beneficial use of water through the failure to maintain outdoor watering systems, such as damaged drip irrigation lines and damaged or missing sprinkler heads. The loss of water through breaks or leaks in a water user's plumbing or distribution system also falls under the ordinance. Currently, the City is not restricting the beneficial use of water through irrigation schedule run times.

Water Waste reports can be submitted through Tempe 311. To help staff quickly and accurately investigate water waste reports, be sure to include:

The closest address where the waste is occurring.

A detailed description of the issue. 

A photo of the waste.

Contact information for questions. 

Youth Education and Water Conservation

Tempe Water Conservation has a robust education and outreach program. One component of the program is youth education. Tempe is excited to be working with the Environmental Education Exchange to provide water conservation education, through engaging, hands-on activities to Tempe elementary schools for the 2022-2023 school year. This program is open to all schools in the Tempe water service area, with a targeted audience of grades second through fourth. There is no cost to educators to take advantage of this educational resource. If you or an educator you know is interested in participating, contact Water Conservation at [email protected].

For more resources for educators and students grades K-12, visit our Education webpage.

Plan Now to Save Water and Money in 2023
Tempe Water Conservation will be opening the Water Efficiency and Education Grant (WEEG) for applications in January of 2023. This grant is open to all non-residential customers in the Tempe water service area seeking significant water efficiency upgrades. Eligible projects may include industrial process modifications and upgrades in water efficiency for domestic consumption, landscaping and cooling towers. The WEEG program is a reimbursement-based grant that covers 50% of project costs, with a maximum cost share of $60,000 for all projects. Applicants must go through a pre-approval process which involves contacting conservation staff for a Water Efficiency Consultation. Consultations are a complimentary service where staff check for leaks, assess flow rates of fixtures, and walk the property to provide recommendations on irrigation controller schedules, pruning and watering practices. For landscape conversion projects, it is highly recommended that applicants contact Water Conservation prior to applying to ensure compliance with landscaping and zoning code requirements.  

To schedule a consultation, contact [email protected] or 480-350-8351.

Tempe Business Spotlight
On Aug. 30, staff from Tempe's Water Resources Section partnered with Tempe's Sustainability Department to hold a business forum. Several local businesses were in attendance to learn more about Tempe's Commercial, Industrial and Institutional (CII) Water Conservation Program, drought updates, and the City's sustainability initiatives. Thank you to the businesses that attended and to the many Tempe businesses doing their part to efficiently manage their water usage.

If your organization would be interested in a similar program, please reach out to Tempe Water Conservation at 480-350-8351 or [email protected]. 

Low-Water-Use Plants

The fall is a great time to plant low-water-use plants. From late September to early December, soil temperatures are warm, encouraging root growth and development. Tempe Water Conservation has several resources on low-water-use plants, including guides on how to install a xeriscape landscape, how to select the right tree for the right place, and information on over 200 desert-adapted species. These resources can be found on the Water Conservation Resource Library. Hardcopies can be requested by submitting an order form.

If your business is planning a turf-to-xeriscape conversion project, consider Tempe's Turf Replacement Rebate.