Marana Water Weather-Based Irrigation Controller Rebate
Hats off to Marana Water (MW) for implementing rebates for installing a weather-based irrigation controller! MW customers can now receive a rebate up to $100 for a maximum of two controllers. Click on the button to go to the MW Water Conservation Website Page.
This program will help immensely in reducing water consumption by properly applying water to landscape based on the time of year and weather. For example, I have a RainBird ESP-TM2 weather-based irrigation controller (shown above) and today (12/14/24) it is automatically applying irrigation water at 15% of the peak application rate in mid-summer!
Tortolita Alliance (TA) has recommended use of weather-based irrigation controllers in the past. See Smart Irrigation To Save Water and our 4/5/24 letter to Marana Town Council recommending rebates for weather-based irrigation controllers and hot water recirculation pumps to be included in their Water Conservation Rebate Policy.
We have requested in the past that Tucson Water also offer rebates for weather-based irrigation controllers and hot water recirculation pumps but they have not yet implemented these water-saving rebate programs.
Tucson Water Rate Increase
Tucson City Council approved a 25% increase to the Central Arizona Project (CAP) Water Supply Fee due to rising costs related to the delivery of Colorado River water via the CAP in Arizona. This rate will increase from the current $1.00/ CCF to $1.25/ CCF. Tucson Water also projects to increase the CAP Water Supply Fee to $1.50/CCF in 2028.
Here is what the increase looks like on my most recent water bill. Although the rate increases by 25% the total water bill increases by only 1.2%.
