City of Buckeye
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Buckeye’s water conservation program wants to change the perception that water conservation requires deprivation. Instead of giving up comfort and convenience, water conservation requires making minor habit changes to reduce water waste by incorporating improved efficiency devices and appliances into your home or business, and selecting colorful and diverse water-efficient landscaping plants. Water conservation promotes a lifestyle that is well-suited to our climate and it reduces water bills.
For information and tips to save water and money visit the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association website.
Conservation Codes
While the majority of the code provisions are aimed at reducing outdoor water usage for future developments, several sections directly affect existing homeowners associations and residents. In addition to residents who receive water and sewer services from the city of Buckeye, the approved code changes would also apply to areas of the city receiving service from AZ Water Company and EPCOR. The full list of conservation codes can be found here.
Water Conservation Rebates
The Water Resources Director may issue rebates according to Ordinance 14-09 which are required to be budgeted annually. Up to $10,000 in rebates are available for a fiscal year and are offered on a first come, first served basis until funds are exhausted. View more about the Smart Irrigation Controller and Turf Replacement rebates here.
Buckeye's Drought Management Plan
The city of Buckeye has implemented a Drought Management Plan that will help relieve the stress of the states water supply. This plan is broken down in four phases, all with different levels of cutbacks. Currently, Buckeye has not implemented any part of the Drought Management Plan.
View the Drought Management Plan here.
If Your Bill Seems High, Here Are Some Possible Causes:
Irrigation/Landscape
This is the most common cause of a higher than average water bill. A broken irrigation line underground can be losing over 300 gallons per hour and you may not see it at the surface. Over-watering is also a common source of high usage.
Water Softener/Reverse Osmosis
Water softeners not programmed properly can cycle hundreds of gallons per day through the system. A reverse osmosis system can use up to five gallons for every gallon of water it produces.
Leaks
The average leaking toilet can waste up to 6,000 gallons per month. Toilet leaks are often silent and can be intermittent, allowing loss of water to go undetected for long periods of time.
Swimming Pool
An average size swimming pool (400 sq. ft.) uses 16,000 gallons to fill and loses about 25,000 gallons each year due to evaporation and backwashing. Evaporation loss in the summer can be as high as 2,500 gallons a month.
- More than 10% of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more each day.
- A leak 1/32 of an inch (the thickness of a dime) can lose over 6,500 gallons per month.
- Install a smart water controller that is weather based to save on irrigation.
- Read your house water meter before and after a two hour period when no water is being used. If it does not read exactly the same you have a leak.
- Replace high water use plants and lawns with xeriscape.
- Run the washing machine and dishwasher only when full.