UA takes part in water conservation effort

In response, representatives from both organizations are finding ways to lessen possible consequences resulting from a water shortage.

"If there is a drought, we are concerned about it," said Al Tarcola, the University of Arizona's Facilities Management director.

The UA is preparing for hot summer months by watering plants as little as possible to maintain them, Tarcola said. Reclaimed water is being used for irrigation and in cooling towers, he said.

Officials have also pledged to ensure that water hits plants, not sidewalks or asphalt, he said.

The UA used about 466 million gallons of water in 1998, spending about $350,000, Tarcola said.

Tucson Water officials, anticipating greater water use in the city, are worried about the consequences if a drought occurs, said Mitch Basefsky, a Tucson Water spokesman.

"It is very serious, this consumption-overdraft of water," Basefsky said. "A drought makes it that much more threatening to the environment."

The city of Tucson consumes about 87 million gallons of water daily, up from the normal 70 million gallons, he said.

Tucson residents consumed about 34 billion gallons last year and about 37 billion gallons in 1997, Basefsky said. Last year's decreased water use was most likely a result of increased rainfall from El Nino, he said.

But this year, the National Weather Service advised city officials rainfall may not be received until about July when monsoon storms are expected to begin, he said.

"We are counting on conservation helping us," Basefsky said.

The UA has six on-campus wells, which serve for drinking as well as agricultural purposes throughout the state, said Bill Witschi, the university's water systems manager.

"One of the advantages of wells is, until the well runs dry, there is all the water you need," Witschi said.

The wells also make the UA less dependent on the city for water resources, Tarcola said.

"They reduce our consumption and reliance on the aquifer and reduces the need from the city," he said.

A Tucson drought would raise water prices and cause the ground to fall, Basefsky said. Decreasing damaging drought effects would be up to its consumers' actions, he said.

If each person used 10 gallons of water less each day, that effort would conserve about 6 million gallons, he said.

"It is a question of environmental and societal problems that become too much for the community to take," Basefsky said.

People tend to use more water during periods without rainfall, he said.

"The psychological effect of a drought is people use more water outdoors than they need to," he said.