Citizens committee takes aim at water wasters

By Jeremy Twitchell

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008 | midnight

Henderson residents could see a crackdown on water wasters or higher water rates for the biggest users if the city follows the recommendations of a committee asked to evaluate water conservation policies.

Those were just two of the more drastic recommendations of the 15-member citizens committee, which represented homeowners, developers and businesses. The City Council voted 4-0 Aug. 18 to accept the group's report.

Another suggestion was to make the temporary drought restrictions the city has adopted, which include watering schedules and a ban on grass in front yards for new construction, into permanent policies, regardless of drought conditions.

The group also recommended public outreach programs, monitoring devices on the city's water system to track water waste and more city programs to help homeowners conserve.

"When you look at it, this plan will take us out 30 years," Councilman Jack Clark said. "These suggestions are things that we can all easily do. This is the desert, and if each one of us just saves a bit, it will help."

Some of the minor recommendations, such as outreach programs, may be implemented by the Department of Utility Services at the department's discretion. Major changes, such as restructuring the city's water rate schedule, would require a separate act of the City Council.

The overarching goal of the recommendations, the committee said, is to reduce the gallons each person uses from 265 to 200 gallons per day by 2035.

Committee spokesman Lee Farris of the Landwell Co. said the committee believed that a concerted public outreach would be the key to making the program a success. The committee called on the city to reach out to homeowners associations, individual homeowners and even children.

"As a father of two, I can tell you that it can have an enormous effect when your children tell you to do something, because you want to be responsible and set the example to teach them responsibility," Farris said.

Jeremy Twitchell is a reporter for the Home News. He can be reached at 990-8928 or [email protected].