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Sierra Vista—Where the action is on water—it’s not just talk! Yes, every drop counts! And the drops, gallons and acre-feet of water the people of Sierra Vista are conserving, both individually and through the efforts of their city government, are adding up to really make a difference. Sierra Vista has made great progress in reducing water consumption within City limits, results that could not have been achieved without the conservation efforts of many in this community. The people of Sierra Vista enjoy a special ecosystem. As the area's largest community, Sierra Vista is committed to protecting the interests of its residents and preserving its natural resources, most notably the unique San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (SPRNCA). But, protecting the area's economy also plays a role in area water conservation efforts. Fort Huachuca is legally obligated under an agreement with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to balance water withdrawals with water recharge by 2011. So, water conservation efforts in Sierra Vista are aimed not only at protecting the San Pedro River, but also at supporting the Fort's efforts to achieve its goals in water conservation and mitigation. If that isn't enough incentive to take action, conserving water also reduces wear and tear on major City infrastructure such as the Environmental Operations Park, and can postpone the need for major investments in new infrastructure, ultimately saving taxpayer dollars. Unlike some other duties and functions of city government, initiatives to reduce water consumption require the cooperation and daily involvement of members of the public, and coordination and cooperation with many other organizations, both private and public. The City supports its residents' water conservation efforts through rebate programs, conservation education, and enforcement of water conservation codes and ordinances. It supports the work of other stakeholders in the sub-watershed through its work with the Upper San Pedro Partnership. The City of Sierra Vista and its residents understand the importance of water conservation in the Sierra Vista Sub-watershed and are willing to take actions that count. Every resident can do their part by being informed, supporting public projects, and taking individual actions to conserve water. It all adds up!
Environmental Operations Park (EOP)—Preserving Sierra Vista’s Resources Two decades ago when the city's sewage treatment facility was originally designed, treated sewage (effluent) was looked upon as something to dispose of - hence the term “wastewater”. Times have certainly changed. Effluent is now recognized as the valuable commodity it is, and at Sierra Vista's Environmental Operations Park (EOP), effluent is processed to a high quality and returned to the underground aquifer. Last year, over 2,200 acre-feet of water was returned to the aquifer at the Environmental Operations Park. To put that number in perspective, for the entire year of 2006, Fort Huachuca used less than 1,159 acre-feet of water, so returning 2,200 acre-feet to the aquifer is an important initiative for the community. At the Environmental Operations Park, sewage is treated through an all-natural process to the highest possible quality before it is recharged into the aquifer. There are 50 acres of constructed wetlands that, along with native grasses, provide an inviting habitat for birds and wildlife. A convenient 1,800 square-foot wildlife-viewing platform with tables, benches and native landscaping is located near the wetlands for bird and wildlife enthusiasts. Both the City's yard waste composting facility and the County's regional solid waste transfer station are also located at the EOP. Of course, most importantly, the Environmental Operations Park is home to 30 acres of water recharge basins – where the action is!
The City recognizes the importance of stormwater recharge and has constructed a number of detention and retention basins around the community to ensure that stormwater runoff is slowed and held in basins to increase the amount of recharge. Retention and detention basins also help protect the community from flooding in the case of extreme monsoon rains. In addition, the City recognizes the importance of keeping pollutants out of stormwater runoff as much as possible and is moving forward with commercial and public education to increase public awareness and promote safeguarding stormwater as a viable water recharge resource. Where are the basins located in Sierra Vista? In Sierra Vista, our washes and streets double as our storm sewers. Streets in Sierra Vista carry all water runoff—everything from over-watered lawns to monsoon rains. After water runs off our streets, driveways, parking lots and sidewalks into washes and detention/retention basins, it passes through the soil and eventually enters the aquifer. More Information
City of Sierra Vista Water Conservation Codes Through the implementation of water conservation development codes, the City of Sierra Vista continues to take a leadership role in protecting the area's future water supply and our community's unique environment. The City has a 20-year history of implementing effective water conservation codes, and is currently taking action to improve and expand its water conservation codes and ordinances.
The City of Sierra Vista continues to help residents be “WATERtight.” The City's WATERtight efforts have concentrated on providing incentive-based conservation alternatives rather than mandates, making water conservation information available to the public, and continuously identifying and addressing new water conservation opportunities. In 2001, the City received the Governor's Pride in Arizona Award for Water Conservation in recognition of the WATERtight program. As of 2005, the WATERtight Toilet Rebate program has replaced over 1,600 high-flow toilets with new low-flow models and has conserved over 45 acre-feet of water. That is nearly 15 million gallons of water saved over the past seven years!
WATERtight Residential Rebate Information
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