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Building contractors and developers such as Castle & Cooke aren’t averse to conservation infrastructure such as pre-plumbing homes for graywater reuse.
Developer Castle & Cooke isn’t as long as it’s reasonably and fairly regulated.
“I think most contractors are fine with water conservation,” said Castle & Cooke Vice President Rick Coffman. “I’m in favor, as long as they’re implemented city wide. If it’s good enough for Tribute, it’s good enough for everyone else.”
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While Tribute is the largest remaining property in Sierra Vista that is scheduled for development, the city staff and City Council have agreed new municipal conservation codes will likely emerge through Tribute’s development process.
In a new water conservation survey of Cochise County residents conducted by the Herald/Review and the Cochise College Center for Economic Research, 65 percent of respondents indicated they would not support an increase in property taxes to provide incentives to home owners for installation of water-saving devices in their homes.
Sixty-three percent of respondents indicated they would not support an increase in property taxes to provide incentives to home builders for installation of water-saving devices in the homes they build.
However, 82 percent of respondents indicated they would be willing to pay twice as much for a new washing machine that would use half the amount of water.
Sierra Vista City Manager Chuck Potucek said the author of the survey could have written virtually anything after the words “would you support an increase in property taxes to provide” and have expected a negative response.
“Without raising taxes, we are looking at a number of incentives besides the toilet rebate program,” Potucek said.
The community must define where it wants to go.
“It’s a quality-of-life issue. Where do you draw the line?” said Jim Herrewig, director of the city’s Department of Community Development.
Mayor Pro Tem Bob Strain added another philosophical question: “How intrusive should government be in the lives of people?”
Strain, who is also on the Upper San Pedro Partnership executive and advisory committees, said he expects the graywater re-use issue to inspire much debate.
A staff-council work session is scheduled for 3 p.m. today for discussion about possible new conservation measures under consideration by city staff.
“I don’t know if the support is there for a lot of this,” Herrewig said looking at the list of city conservation code proposals.
The following are part of Sierra Vista’s water conservation code:
For new single-family homes
-- Shower heads that deliver a maximum of 2.5 gallons per minute
-- All kitchen faucets shall deliver a maximum of 2.5 gpm
-- Lavatory faucets to deliver a maximum of 2 gpm
-- All single-family units shall include hot water recirculating systems or, upon approval of the city, an alternative water-saving device may be used. Alternative water-saving devices can include point-of-use water heaters, super insulation methods, or short hot-water line run distances.
For landscaping, walls, screening and buffer for new single-family structures
-- Turf, when used, will be a water-conserving species
New commercial, industrial, governmental, multiple-family and residential development common areas
-- Misters prohibited
-- Sensors shall be used on toilets, but automatic toilet flushing fixtures are not allowed
-- Waterless urinals shall be used when urinals are to be used
-- All shower head fixtures shall deliver a maximum of 2.5 gallons per minute
-- All kitchen faucets shall be equipped with permanent flow control devices that deliver a maximum of 2.5 gpm
-- All car washing facilities shall be equipped with a water recycling system that recycles a minimum of 75 percent of the water
For landscaping, industrial, governmental, and higher density residential landscaping, walls, screening and buffer area
-- Pressure regulator shall be installed if pressure exceeds 80 psi
-- When turf is used, it will be a water-conserving species
-- Turf is prohibited in commercial, industrial and governmental development
-- Turf shall not be used on street medians
-- High-water-use turf shall be allowed only in those areas with heavy usage
-- Ponds, fountains, wetlands, marshes, water features for wildlife habitat, functional holding ponds or other reservoirs that are supplied in whole or in part of any water supply, shall not exceed 500 square feet of surface area. Multiple water features on the same property will be considered together to determine surface areas.
-- Fountains and other water features shall have water recirculated (unless there is public contact with water)
Herald/Review reporter Gentry Braswell can be reached at 515-4680, or by e-mail at gentry.braswell@svherald.com.
Joe Hicks wrote on Oct 8, 2007 2:22 PM: