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Gary Bedsworth, chairman of the Mayor's Advisory Task Force on Water Conservation, said in a report released Friday, Aug. 4, that Payson's water conservation efforts could lead to additional water-saving opportunities.
The current water conservation program is hailed statewide as a model policy -- Payson's residents use 87 gallons per day instead of the 187 siphoned away daily by Valley consumers.
But the town could save even more by improving its code.
"When properly executed, water conservation practices can save thousands of gallons of water per person per year," said Bedsworth.
The Payson Water Department's current policy, including conservation levels and water-wasting rules, is outlined in the town code.
The water conservation task force released the following findings and code amendments this week for presentation to the Payson Town Council:
- Payson's programs and resources place the town ahead of many communities in Arizona; however, some materials are outdated and need revision.
- Rainwater is of the highest quality. Unlike water captured in dams that require treatment, rainwater stored appropriately represents a sustainable source of water ideal for use inside and outside the home.
- Harvesting water from a 2,000 square-foot roof delivers 1,246 gallons of water for every inch of rainfall.
- Dish, shower, sink and laundry water comprise 50 to 80 percent of residential wastewater that could be used for other purposes, especially landscape irrigation.
- Xeric (low-water) plants use about one-third the water of the high-water plants half the water of the medium-water plants.
- Many xeric plants can survive without any water other than normal precipitation.
- Hot water recirculation systems can save more than 16,000 gallons of water per year for the average household.
The town should:
- Develop recommendations, standards and provide incentives for rainwater harvesting; gray water usage; hot water recirculation; and xeriscaped landscaping.
- Revise the building codes to require these practices.
- Provide information and incentives to retrofit existing houses and business for water conservation.
- Establish a common xeric plant list with the High Country Xeriscape Council.
- Provide the xeriscape information to the Chamber of Commerce and local plant retailers for dissemination to the public.
- Improve the areas surrounding the town to reflect colorful xeric plantings.
- Develop and publish local rainwater statistics for use in water harvesting system design.
-- To reach Felicia Megdal call 474-5251 ext. 116 or e-mail fmegdal@payson.com.
List of mayoral task forces
Editor's note: This is the list of Mayoral Task Forces and members as of mid-July.
Affordable Housing
Rick Croy
Su Connell
Larry Cornell
Michael Hughes
Donovan Thornhill
Jerry Holland
Sue Yale
Bob Charameda
Cherri Wait
Julie Ruttle
Jerry Owen
Bethany Beck
Airport
Dick Mumma
Jim Garner
Ward Johnson
Rance Nethken
Dennis Satterfield
Steve Vaught
John Varljen
Gordon Holm
Bob Oswald
Maggie McCurrey
Beth Meyer
Jacquelyn Stone
Dick Garmon
Admin. Policies, Procedures
Penny Dorgan
Lucy Briggs
Area Summit
Ronnie MacDonald
Beautification
Linda Parsons
Roger Smoot
Ed Jones
Vern Greenwell
Barbara Sapp
Mike Voden
Sheila DeSchaaf
Citizen Generated Goal Plan
Lew Levenson
Jay Hopkins
Kathy Baas
Gene Samson
Economic Development
Roy Bergold
Ken Volz
Kevin Dick
Jeff Lloyd
Chris Wolf
Ray Pugel
Mike Amon
Tamra and Steve
Ace Hardware
Cari and Greg Day
Pat Willis
Darrel Caddy
Bill Coffman
Marcus McFarlane
Sheldon Roth
Steve or Monica Williams
Jerry Owen
Festival Subcommittee
Kate Launder
Al Lehman
Ron Gilbert
Janis Shores
Jim and Nancy Bradley
Sue Dolan
Cynthia Diaz
Fay Lumley
Design Review Committee
Jeanie Langham
Ethics
Al Poskanser (Linda)
John Watt
Dick Reese
Finance
Joanie King
Robert Henley
Jim Hipple
Ken Kollock
Tim and Nancy Nelson
Dick Krugh
Jack Masheeco
Dr. Wayne Gregory
Guy Pfister
Richard Lindfors
Ed Fenner
Fire Safety
Monte McCord
Paul Gonnerman
Russ & Mary Goddard
George Yost
Tommie Martin
Payson Truck Route
Chris Tilley
Ed Blair
Jim Whitely
Dan Adams
Sue Covert
Bill and Carol Michaelis
Sue Mack
Robert Norman
Thelma Fruitman
Dorothy Ehrig
Barbara Warwick
Paula Strause
Bill Powers
Elmer Kreutzer
Sahah Luckie
Bill Heath
Public Safety Transition
Jim Hinton
Mike Vogel
Kurt Longfellow
Ross Skinner
Kim Pound
Don Parker
Jamie Escobedo
Tom Buckner
Al Sindel
Bill Newman
Dolores LeGault
Fire Subcommittee
Robert Yost
Elwood Harris
Victor Kostecki
Ken Sigsbee
Don Garvin
Mike Varga
Robert Steel
Parks and Recreation
Andy Romance
Streets
Fran Hoffman
Ed Fenner
Diane Sexton
Jack Masheeco
Bill Michaelis
Jack Jasper
Bob Gailey
Jim Croft
Lois Hurd
Joe Mayer
Larry Benzel
Mike Acheson
LaRon Garrett
Volunteers/Charities
Gary Bedsworth
Water
Lynn Godfrey
Bob Edwards
Joel Mona
Dan Adams
Willard Cox
Chris Benjamin
Don Meloche
Don Schendel
Bill Hartsell
Ed Welge
Dick Reese
John Breninger
Jerry Eller
Stewart Allen
Chuck Heron
Karen Probert
Water Conservation
Gary Bedsworth
Judy Shafferkoetter
Joan Cornwell
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