U.S. Water News Online
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Pima County is considering some new water-conservation rules, such as prohibiting businesses from running misters and disallowing evaporative coolers as a primary source of home cooling.
The proposed new rules are aimed at improving a December 2001 county plan that promotes water conservation but doesn't require it.
"In 2001 we said that water conservation is important and that we should adopt ordinances. This is following up on that," said Kathleen Chavez, county water policy manager.
Misters are most commonly used to cool outdoor seating areas in restaurants, bars and other gathering places.
Other proposed water-conservation measures include discouraging individual pools in areas with community pools, prohibiting evaporative coolers as the sole source of cooling and requiring irrigation plumbing that can be connected to reclaimed water.
Most of the measures would apply to new construction, according to Chavez.
"These are just ideas and we'll need to look at them from a legal perspective, an ordinance-compliance perspective and also from a public-participation perspective," Chavez said.
The county Board of Supervisors will discuss the proposals and decide if it wants to move forward with adopting them, said County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry.
The Southern Arizona Home Builders Association plans to ask the county to delay the item so its representatives can get some answers.
"We were hoping that as the staff drafts an ordinance we will be part of the dialogue so that the measure is workable and enforceable," said Lori Lustig, SAHBA government liaison.
The proposed conservation measures are "a good first start," Lustig said, but she thinks there needs to be a lot more discussion to make sure the cost to home buyers is worth it.
"A lot of the ideas are good ideas, but they are more expensive for the home builder or the home buyer after the fact," she said.
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