Frequently asked questions

The Long View is an Integrated Demand Management Program (IDMP) that brings together key partners in the area to collaborate on water conservation initiatives and resources for Sierra Vista. The partners currently involved in the IDMP are the City of Sierra Vista, the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension’s Water Wise Program, and a local private water utility, Arizona Water Company.

While each of these three partners have historically implemented water conservation on their own, the Long View creates an opportunity to expand awareness of resources to help the community save water. The IDMP will serve as a hub for information.

The program’s partners, City of Sierra Vista, the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension’s Water Wise Program, and Arizona Water Company, are already providing some water conservation resources for the community.

The City of Sierra Vista was acknowledged by the Environmental Protection Agency as the first community in the nation to adopt the EPA’s WaterSense guidelines as standards for future residential development in 2013. That’s just one of many examples of how water conservation has been considered by the city.

The city also has implemented policies to ensure wise water use, with article 151.16 dedicated to water conservation in their City Code. Additionally, the City of Sierra Vista’s proposed General Plan, called Vista 2040, has a chapter dedicated to Environmental Planning, Conservation, & Water Resources, which outlines such goals as OBJECTIVE 3-1.3, which calls for promoting long-term water conservation and protecting groundwater resources to support community sustainability and environmental health.

The city is also walking the walk, by looking at reducing the water footprint at city facilities. This is done by replacing landscaping with drought-friendly choices like desert xeriscape and artificial turf, installing green infrastructure to redirect rainwater runoff to detention basins and collecting it in rain barrels, and installing low-flush toilets and faucets in all city facilities.

Additionally, the city offers a city Toilet Rebate Program, which offers $100 on EPA WaterSense labeled toilets.

Finally, the city’s Environmental Operations Park is a critical project that recharges the city of Sierra Vista’s A-quality treated effluent to help protect groundwater supplies. Recharging the effluent means allowing the effluent to slowly soak into the ground and recharge the local aquifer.

The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension’s Water Wise Program provides a range of resources for all of Cochise County, which includes Sierra Vista. These resources include in-person water conservation consultations at residential properties at the request of homeowners, presentations and talks to adults and youth, and a Business and Commercial Water Conservation Grant Program.

• For more information on these resources, please visit this link.

Arizona Water Company (AWC) is one of the local private water utilities in Sierra Vista. Water conservation resources have been provided to the city by AWC well before the launch of The Long View IDMP. For example, local AWC staff will contact customers to make them aware of higher-than-normal water bills, inspect the local water infrastructure to check for leaks, and replace old and malfunctioning water meters.

• For a full list of the existing water conservation efforts by AWC, visit this link.

Liberty Utilities is also doing a lot for water conservation in the community. For more information on resources and programming available for Liberty customer, please visit this link.

The Long View IDMP will provide the community with a centralized hub for people to learn more about what water conservation resources already exist for the community, and find new ways to conserve water for the good of their local watershed. The program will provide new resources, such as educational videos on where Sierra Vista’s water comes from and a Facebook page with tips and information posted weekly. The program will also expand upon existing resources like 4th grade youth education, rain barrel giveaway events, and community presentations. Since the IDMP is a collaborative effort between the city, the utility, and the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension’s Water Wise Program, we anticipate that new ideas will come up as water concerns are better understood. Stay tuned by following the Facebook page!

Thanks for taking the initiative to be water conscious. That helps with The Long View in Sierra Vista! Feel free to follow our Facebook page as we’ll be posting water-saving tips and sharing the successes of residents and businesses who are helping to conserve water.