Tempe continues to lead in water conservation efforts with recent grant awards, innovative rebate programs, and celebrations of significant milestones. Here’s a comprehensive update on Tempe’s latest water-related initiatives and how residents can participate.
Tempe Receives Grant for Water Rebate Funding
The Tempe City Council approved a Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA) grant award of $250,000 to support the Public Works Department’s cooling tower rebate program. Earlier this year, the council also approved two additional WIFA grants totaling $400,000 to aid the Community Services Department in removing non-functional turf at city parks.
What Are Cooling Towers?
Cooling towers are systems that remove heat from buildings through water movement and evaporation, commonly found in large facilities like multi-family buildings, schools, hotels, and office buildings.
Water Usage of Cooling Towers
Cooling towers typically account for 40% of a building’s water demand, according to the Alliance for Water Efficiency.
Cooling Tower Rebate Program
Tempe’s cooling tower rebate program partners with non-residential customers to enhance water use efficiency. This can involve installing technology to remotely monitor cooling tower settings, receive real-time usage alerts, track water usage with sub-meters, or upgrade water treatment processes. Qualified projects can receive a rebate of 50% of the purchase price for approved upgrades, up to $50,000.
Potential Water Savings
Each completed cooling tower rebate project can save up to 26 million gallons of water annually.
Monarch Garden Rebate: Supporting Pollinators
As part of its commitment to becoming a certified Monarch City, Tempe is encouraging residents to plant monarch and pollinator-friendly plants. The Monarch and Pollinator Pledge involves increasing habitats for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
Rebate for Pollinator-Friendly Plants
Residents can receive a rebate through the desert plant rebate program, offering $75 for purchasing desert-adapted plants installed on single-family residential properties. These plants support pollinator conservation efforts.
Ideal Conditions for Landscape Conversions
Tempe’s landscape rebate program provides incentives for residents to convert water-thirsty lawns to desert-friendly landscapes.
Benefits of Landscape Conversion
Converting to a desert-adapted landscape can save over 50% on outdoor water use, amounting to up to 50 gallons per square foot of grass converted. This shift also reduces maintenance efforts and costs.
How to Convert Your Landscape
Plan your landscape conversion carefully. Remove grass under ideal conditions, choose the right plants, and avoid planting too close to structures. Tempe’s water conservation specialists can assist with literature and consultations to help residents plan their projects effectively.
June Whentowater Report
To assist residents in efficient watering practices, Tempe provides a monthly Whentowater report. This report offers guidelines for watering different types of plants and lawns, helping residents maintain healthy landscapes while conserving water.
Watering Guidelines for June
- Lawns: Bermuda grass – once every three days; Rye grass – no watering needed as it dies out.
- Trees and Shrubs: Desert-adapted – once every 14 days; high water use – once every seven days.
- Cacti and Succulents: Once every 18-20 days.
- Annuals and Vegetables: Once every two to three days.
Water Wise Plant of the Month: Woolly Butterfly Bush
The Woolly Butterfly Bush (Buddleja marrubiifolia) is this month’s featured plant. Native to the Chihuahuan Desert, it thrives in full sun and attracts butterflies with its orange flowers. This evergreen plant requires very low water and grows up to five feet tall and wide.
Tempe Residents Fill Water Consultation Schedule
Tempe’s free water consultations have been highly popular, with over 80 residents scheduling appointments since March. These consultations, lasting about two hours, include landscape and irrigation system reviews and customized reports with water-saving recommendations.
Celebrating 30 Years of Banking Water
Tempe marks the 30th anniversary of the Granite Reef Underground Storage Project (GRUSP), a major water-banking facility developed through partnerships. This facility has enabled Tempe to store over 78,000 acre-feet (more than 25 billion gallons) of water underground, ensuring water security and drought preparedness.
For more information on Tempe’s water conservation programs, rebates, and resources, visit tempe.gov/water.
