AMWUA Blog
Colorado River Shortage: Where We Are Right Now
It is crucial for Arizona to avoid a shortage declaration of Colorado River water by the federal government because our state would take the first cut. Cities would still receive the same amount of water in an initial or tier-one shortage declaration, but any shortage declaration is bad for business because it negatively impacts public perception of our state. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has gathered ...
Sep 25 2017
Diving In: Underwater Work Saves Cities Money & WaterIt seems unlikely that divers would be in demand in the middle of the Sonoran Desert, but cities call on them regularly to help keep their water treatment plants operating reliably and efficiently. Don’t picture these professional divers in goggles with air tanks on their backs swimming among fish. These contractors operate more like construction crews who happen to work underwater. ...
Sep 18 2017
AMWUA.org: Bigger, Brighter, Bolder And A Little SmarterOur first overhaul of AMWUA.org in a decade is big, bright and bold. It’s not all flash and dazzle, although that’s what makes it more fun—and far easier—to explore. Going deep into the new AMWUA website is effortless and well worth your time. The ...
Sep 11 2017
AZ To Permit Purified Wastewater As Drinking Water SourceMore than 550 water professionals and researchers from across the country and the world are in the City of Phoenix this week to talk about one subject: reusing wastewater. Recycling highly treated wastewater into a drinking water source is one of the biggest topics at the ...
Sep 04 2017
For A Better Looking Summer Lawn, Plant Winter Grass CorrectlyPreparing to overseed your summer bermudagrass for a winter lawn? You’re way too early. That’s just one of the warnings offered by turfgrass researchers at the University of Arizona’s Maricopa County Cooperative Extension program. Overseeding now could leave large bare patches in your bermuda lawn next summer. Avoid these three common mistakes for a prettier, even lawn all year that requires less ...
Aug 28 2017
Drab to Fab: Watch And Learn From This Backyard MakeoverLisa Osborne and her husband bought their City of Avondale home in 2008. They planted two citrus trees in the backyard that sat in a field of gravel for years and proceeded to turn brown. Until last November, the backyard had not changed. The economic downturn and family responsibilities left the yard to become what Lisa called the dog's den, since their dog Abby was the only family member who fou...
Aug 21 2017
Want A Lovelier Landscape? Master Your IrrigationMore than half the drinking water used in the Phoenix Metro area is used outdoors, mostly to irrigate landscapes. Desert dwellers irrigate a variety of plants, trees and grass all year long as the weather swings from extremely hot to freezing. Establishing a lovely landscape can mean a steep and expensive learning curve. It doesn’t have to. There are two important and easy lessons to maintaining a...
Aug 14 2017
Why Are We Still Using Flood Irrigation In The Desert?Flood irrigation can be a surprising sight in a desert Valley. Water comes pouring out of ditches, covering large parks, ball fields or yards in what looks like deep storm runoff. While the rest of us are using drip lines and sprinklers, this sort of watering is difficult to understand. Here are the facts about flood irrigation in the Valley....
Aug 07 2017
Dirty Secrets: Backyard Composting Among Cities’ Free Landscape ClassesAMWUA cities offer more than 70 free landscape classes throughout the year to help you grow a more beautiful yard with less water. Local experts introduce you to a wide variety of desert plants and how to use them to design shady and colorful spaces that attract birds and butterflies. Topics also include how to select, plant and nurture trees, how much and when to water, how to grow vegetables and...
Jul 31 2017
Pure Brew: Campaign Promotes Future Source Of Drinking WaterA couple dozen Arizona craft breweries will bring their beers to Phoenix in September to vie for a professional judge’s choice award and a people's choice award. Here's why this particular beer competition is big news: The competing brewers are making their beers with purified recycled wastewater for the ...