Water Smart

A sparse monsoon season and fall has increased Yavapai County's moderate drought area by nearly 12%. Let's hope we see some significant moisture soon!

Did you know that a leak, even a small one, can use a lot of water and cost you money. Now that winter's nearly here, take a look inside and make sure you don't have any drips or leaks inside.

- Check the toilets first. Put 10-15 drops of food dye in the
tank and wait 5-10 minutes. If the dye color is in the bowl;
there is a leak. The flapper or tank ball is most likely the
cause.

- Replace worn out washers in faucets and showerheads.

- Make sure all faucets are turned off. A faucet drip can
waste up to 5,148 gallons of water per year.

- Check all household appliances, including the hot water
heater and evaporative cooler, for leaks at connection
points.

- Make certain the level in the water pan of evaporative
coolers is below the top of the overflow pipe.

For more information, visit https://yavapaiwatersmart.org/documents-1 -c37b-46ea-9b37-ad35d53b7719

Growing and maintaining native vegetation will protect property from flooding and erosion. The Arizona Department of Water Resources reports that the largest use of potable water in Arizona is for landscaping, and as much as 70 percent of residential water use is outdoors. Find more information at https://new.azwater.gov/conservation/landscaping

While a dry monsoon has returned much of Arizona to Abnormally Dry (89%) or Moderate Drought (38%) status, the state is still better off than in August 2022, when 100% of the state was Abnormally Dry, with 73% in Moderate Drought and 28% in Severe Drought. In August 2022, 29% of the state was in Severe Drought, where currently just over 1% is in Severe Drought. Find more information at https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/