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Water means sustainability for Verdes

Posted 2/4/16

One of the first things done Jan. 30, for the Living Green in the Verdes: It’s All About Water conference was the unveiling of a new logo identifying Rio Verde as an Audubon International certified …

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Water means sustainability for Verdes

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One of the first things done Jan. 30, for the Living Green in the Verdes: It’s All About Water conference was the unveiling of a new logo identifying Rio Verde as an Audubon International certified sustainable community.

What followed was a series of speakers providing information and tips to maintain water sustainability.

Joanna Nadeau, Audubon International Sustainable Communities program director, was the keynote speaker. She said the objective for sustainability is to not use more water than is replenished. She said locally the use trends are good, noting that the community is using the same amount of water it did in the 80s.

However, Nadeau said the demand for water in the Colorado River Basin is greater than the supply.

During 2014, Rio Verde used 3014 acre feet of water, approximately 982 million gallons. Of that, 25 percent was for residential use and 71 percent was used by the golf club. Another 4 percent went to commercial use such as the clubhouse buildings and offices.

Nadeau said the water usage for Rio Verde was comparable on a percentage basis to the Phoenix area and the State of Arizona.

Rio Verde residents use 450 gallons per day, with 17 percent for indoor use and 83 percent used outdoors.

“Maybe we are using more water outside than we need to,” Nadeau said.

Sal Celona, Living Green in the Verdes Chairman, said Rio Verde will be marking World Water Day on March 22 by concentrating on saving water used for landscaping and irrigation.

Noelle Johnson, a horticulturist and certified arborist, has worked with Rio Verde residents for more than 15 years on landscaping projects.

Johnson said the focus should be on sustainable landscapes. She said two-thirds of water is used for irrigation, and she noted that “more plants die from overwatering than under-watering.”

She urged residents to learn and build the right irrigation system for their landscaping and use a smart controller for optimum water savings.

Johnson said there are three kinds of landscaping scenarios for water savings: drought tolerant, moderate drought tolerant and extremely drought tolerant.

She said all designs in these categories can provide beautiful, colorful landscapes year round.

Mike Kleminski, general manager for Rio Verde Utilities, described the water systems for Rio Verde and the company’s service area.

He noted he has had a number of questions recently from people wondering about the impact of the new Shea Home Trilogy community on the Verde Communities water supply.

Kleminski said that area has always been part of the Rio Verde Utilities’ service area and the new project creates no more demand than previous plans.

He noted that although there is greater density in housing, individual homes use the least amount of water.

The original plan for Vista Verde included two golf courses and Shea has eliminated one of those, reducing the water use considerably.

There is also some additional land in the service area that may or may not be developed, according to Kleminski. He said the entire service area was planned and included seven golf courses, of which there is currently five and possibly no more.

Rio Verde Utilities uses ground water from nine wells situated between the eastern boundary of Tonto Verde and the Verde River.

Kleminski said the wells range from 160 feet in depth up to 1,050. He said the shallower wells provide the better drinking water. Four of the wells are used strictly for irrigation due to water quality. Those are all deeper wells.

Kleminski said that, due to the depth and soil conditions, the water table for the company’s wells have historically regenerated easily. He said one of the deeper wells can provide up to 2,000 gallons per minute, a sign of a healthy water table at the deeper depth.

Kleminski also said that Rio Verde Country Club’s decision to convert turf to desert landscaping will offer significant water savings. Converting 50 acres of turf will save 80 million gallons of water.