| |
- Individuals and organizations involved in water-related studies,
pilot projects and applied research are invited to submit information
for this section.
Tucson AMA Water Conservation Projects Funded
The Arizona Department of Water Resources,
Tucson Active Management Area, recently awarded funds for 13 new water
conservation projects, totaling $150,091. A component of the Conservation
Assistance Program, the grants provide funds for conservation projects
that focus on reducing water consumption within the AMAs. ADWR's Director
Rita P. Pearson awards grants based on recommendations from department
staff and the Tucson AMA Groundwater Users Advisory Council. Funds
for the program are collected from groundwater withdrawal fees. Following
is a brief description of funded programs:
Field test overwatering controller, University
of Arizona, Ag/Biosystems Engineering, $11,074.
- Funding is provided to field test an over-watering controller device.
The purpose of the overwatering controller is to reduce over-irrigation.
The device measures the conductivity in the soil which is related to
soil moisture. By measuring conductivity to determine the water needs
of plants, a more efficient watering schedule can be established. Field
testing is needed under various conditions, and fifty test sites have
been tentatively identified.
Training/materials for cooling tower operations,
Pima Community College, $9,330.
- The applicant will conduct research to determine the number of cooling
towers in Tucson and what information presently is available to properly
manage cooling towers. Two educational videos are to be produced, one
to introduce the subject and the other to be a 120-minute video presenting
an interactive teaching exercise for properly managing cooling towers.
Water conservation potential exists when cooling towers are properly
managed.
Water conservation workshops for professional landscape
personnel and homeowners, U. of A., Cooperative Extension,
Low 4 Program, $30,623.
- Funding will support water conservation workshops to be strategically
held throughout the Tucson AMA. Workshops consist of two programs: Water$mart
and Smartscape programs. Thirty Water$mart programs, which are directed
mainly at residential water users, will be conducted covering such topics
as plant selection and drip irrigation. SmartScape workshops will be
conducted for property managers and will include presenters from a speakers
bureau.
Maintenance and repair training for school district turf
irrigators, U. of A., Cooperative Extension, Low 4 Program,
$10,000.
- The project is to expand training now offered to the Tucson Unified
School District to other school districts in the area. Some new curriculum
will need to be developed for this target group because, not having
received previous training, it will be at a more basic level. Most of
the training will be done in the field. Audit methodology will be used
to measure effectiveness of irrigation systems, and repairs will be
encouraged to improve efficiency of systems. Flowing Wells, Sahuarita,
Sunnyside, Tanque Verde and Tucson Unified school districts provided
letters of support.
Sub-metering and public displays on water conservation,
Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum, $4,800.
- Funding represents seed money for the museum to pursue a water conservation
strategy, including sub-metering and collaboration with government and
academic agencies. The conservation methods are to serve museum operations
as well as promote water conservation among visitors.
Low-flow toilet rebate program, Metropolitan Domestic
Water Improvement District, $10,000.
- As part of its water conservation effort, Metro Water District is
sponsoring a toilet rebate program to encourage customers to install
ultra low-flow toilets. The grant will allow the district to be more
aggressive in promoting the program to reach more people with high-volume
toilets. The applicant will evaluate the program by collecting follow-up
and tracking information.
Upgrade of Casa del Agua educational displays and support
of part-time staffing to accommodate group tours, U. of A.,
Office of Arid Lands Studies, $15,250.
- Casa del Agua, a water conservation demonstration house, recently
has been attracting fewer visitors. The applicant identified two reasons
for this situation: the lack of an outreach program to attract people
to the facility and the somewhat dated exhibits that need to be revised
and updated. Funding will support efforts at remedying the identified
deficiencies.
Tucson Water expansion of regional "Beat the Peak" summer
water conservation program, City of Tucson, $10,000.
- Funding is to support and strengthen Tucson Water's "Beat the Peak"
regional activities, to include participation of water companies throughout
the Tucson and Green Valley areas. Materials including printed materials,
shower timers, pencils and refrigerator magnets will be developed for
regional distribution to spread the water conservation message.
Develop interactive, multi-media database for Xeriscape
plant materials and techniques on CD-ROM, U. of A., Water
Resources Research Center, $20,091.
- The project involves gathering all existing material on Xeriscape
vegetation and techniques developed by organizations and agencies in
Pima and Maricopa counties to include on a CD-ROM. The multi-media database
will include photos, sounds, pronunciation of the botanical names of
plants, etc. Specific information can be searched; e.g., ground covers
native to the Sonoran Desert or other specific types of vegetation.
The CD will be widely distributed, and electronic kiosk versions will
be placed at demonstration gardens, arboretums and other public places.
Educate kids grades 1-8 on water conservation and water
issues through the "HydroSmarts" program in kids newspaper,
Kids View Communications Corp./"Bear Essential News," $10,920.
- The funds are to support "Bear Essential News" water conservation
efforts. A free newspaper written for children, "Bear Essential News"
has a circulation of about 60,000, with 80 percent of the students in
the Tucson area, grades one through eight, receiving the publication.
Water conservation information is presented, with children encouraged
to get actively involved by becoming official HydroRangers. HydroRangers
now number 11,000. The goal is to instill good water habits at an early
age and to get children to actively think about how to conserve water.
Develop two types of low-cost water cisterns for harvesting
rainwater, made from commonly available components, Dan Dorsey,
$975.
- Project is to develop two types of low-cost water cisterns to be
built with materials readily available at hardware stores. Only basic
tools would be required — saw and hammer — and the cisterns could be
assembled in a single afternoon and set up under gutters to harvest
rainwater. The water conservation cause would be well served by encouraging
homeowners to build a low-cost water harvesting system. Assuming the
average house roof is 1,500 square feet, 8,500 gallons can be harvested
per year.
Video on uniform and efficient irrigation for agricultural
irrigators in English and Spanish, SWCA Inc., $12,000.
- The project is to provide training to irrigators who often are untrained
in the most efficient techniques of irrigation. Water conservation would
result from the application of more efficient irrigation practices.
The irrigator is targeted but expectations are that the farm manager
also will view the video.
Develop hands-on groundwater models, curriculum and host
a teacher/student career day, Arizona Hydrological Society,
$5,100.
- One hundred hands-on groundwater models are to be constructed for
distribution throughout Tucson schools. To ensure they are effectively
used, a symposium will be conducted involving teachers and students.
The symposium also will serve as a career day.
|
|
|
