Guest View-Mike Zinkin: "Town Water Wasting- The Beat Goes On"

Town of Oro Valley wins 2023 Water Waster Award

This Guest View of Mike Zinkin's is yet another chance to acknowledge the Town of Oro Valley for earning LOVE's 2023 Water Award. This is the third year of this award and, yes, the third time the town has won!

This recognition is attributed to the town's longstanding practice of using potable water for irrigating both a golf course and two town parks, with no apparent intention to adopt alternative measures.

- - -

Zinkin... Potable Water use increasing

We have all received our October 2023 water bills, including the Town of Oro Valley, and the potable water usage remains alarmingly high.

Focusing on the Pusch Ridge golf course, the Town Manager's Report indicates no golf disc rounds played in October, with the course opening for golf only on October 27. Nevertheless, the potable water usage for the month was an excessive 12,390,000 gallons, equating to the needs of 1,770 homes. 

Big bucks spent

The water bill for Pusch Ridge totaled an astonishing $47,962.76. To cover this expense with a golf round cost of $50.00 (for 9 holes), the course would need to host 959 rounds just to break even on the water bill! Notably, the water usage for Pusch Ridge in October 2023 was significantly higher than the same time last year by 6,443,000 gallons, roughly twice 2022 usage. The reason behind this drastic increase in 2023 remains unclear.

Furthermore, the Town's wasteful practices extend to Riverfront Park and Jim Kriegh Park, with a combined usage of 3,236,000 gallons, enough for 462 homes. This represents a 30% increase from the October 2022 figure of 1,936,000 gallons.

Water wasting elsewhere

In addition, the Conquistador water usage in Oct. 2022 was 6,443,000 gallons, while in 2023 the October usage was 14,383,000 gallons. This is a 123% increase. The same trend is true for the Canada course; in October 2022 the usage was 16,318,000 gallons, while in October 2023 the usage was 22,588,000 gallons. This is a 38.5% increase. 

It is concerning to see such a substantial rise in water waste, and it prompts the question:

What changes have occurred on our properties to cause this surge in wastage?

None.

- - -

Note: The town has asserted the following  regarding the increase water use over prior year
 in response to an an inquiry of Mr. Zinkin:

"One of the most significant contributors to water consumption is the temperature and weather and October 2022 was one of our cooler Falls on record,. If you compare last October to this October there were days that had as much as a 16 degree difference.

For example, the Pusch Ridge Course does its overseeding in October and in 2022 there was zero days with 90+ degree heat, compared to this October there were 15 days with 90+ degree heat before the 22nd.

It is important to note that water consumption needs to be looked at holistically over longer time periods to truly understand what the data is telling you. Looking at just one month’s consumption can create a bias that might not be accurate."

- - -

Bits and Pieces

Monsoon Prep: Sand Bags are available 
“ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (June 15, 2023) – June 15 marks the official start of monsoon season, and the Town of Oro Valley wants to make sure residents are monsoon ready! Beginning today, June 15, the Town will provide free sandbags to residents who may need to protect areas of their home and property from monsoon storm runoff. This year, the sandbag pickup has moved to a new location, 9451 N. Egleston Drive, which is behind the fields at James D. Kriegh Park.” (Town of Oro Valley Media Release).  Read more about the town’s sandbag program here.

Alert: Traffic control change on Rancho Vistoso Blvd at Safeway

“Based on the volume of accidents caused by left-hand turns onto Rancho Vistoso Blvd., the Town will be installing signage prohibiting left-hand turns when exiting the Safeway Vistoso Plaza (located on the northeast corner of Tangerine Road and Rancho Vistoso Blvd). Motorists who wish to travel south, east or west from the shopping center will now use the plaza’s southern exit onto Tangerine Road, then proceed to their direction of travel at the intersection. The sign and associated striping is tentatively scheduled for June 15, pending utility blue stake clearances. Staff has already communicated with Safeway that the sign is going to be placed, and the Town will provide an educational flyer for businesses to share with patrons. After the installation, we will be monitoring the compliance of the traffic control change to determine if further measures are needed.” (Source: Town Manager Report for June 2023)

Single Family residence permitting activity lower than last year

“Single Family Residential Activity Nine new Single Family Residential (SFR) permits were issued during the month of May compared to 10 SFR permits issued in April. Year-to-date, 44 SFR permits have been issued since the beginning of the year compared to 110 issued during the same period in 2022.” (Source: Town Manager Report for June 2023)

Wilkins on-board

Town Manager Jeff Wilkins started his tenure with Town of Oro Valley on June 12. 

Water Rates to increase in August

The Town Council unanimously approved an increase in water rates at its June 7 Town Council meeting. The increased water rates will go into effect in August. The increase will cost the average homeowner $1.20 per month in the base rate plus 13 cents per thousand gallons used. The total for the average customer (7,000 gallons used over month) is an increase from  $44 per month to $46 per month. According to Town Water Director Peter Abraham, the increase is needed to cover an increase in CAP water deliver costs and an increase in capital project costs. The increase aligns with Abraham’s philosophy of increasing rates annually at lowest rates possible. The town also increased its reclaimed water rate to cover a 5% increase in the cost of delivery of reclaimed water from Tucson Water. That’s about 10 cents per thousand gallons. (Source: Town Council Meeting, June 7, 2023).

Police Commander Olson to serve as interim UofA Police Chief

Oro Valley Police Officer Chris Olson will serve as Interim Police Chief for the University of Arizona for fiscal 2023-34. Olson is long-time member of the Oro Valley Police Force and a senior leader of the force. The University will reimburse the town for all related personnel costs. Olson worked at the University earlier in his career. (Source)  Council Member Steve Solomon, speaking at the June 21 council meeting, noted that Olson’ s appointment is certainly a testimonial to the quality of the OVPD.

Mike Zinkin: "Budget For Our Future.. Bring Reclaimed Water To All Town Parks and Courses"

Below is the speech that Mike Zinkin addressed to the Town Council during the April 6th Call to the Audience.
- - -
Each of you had an agenda when you ran for office. The common theme was, “I want to help my community grow and prosper.” Some of you favor golf, some of you favor tennis or splash pads or hiking trails and biking trails. Some of you want to assist the children, some want to assist the seniors. Some of you favor development, etc.

Now is the budget season and, as a prior member of the Council, I know that staff is asking you about your spending priorities. Let me request that all of you do something, not only for the entire town, regardless of age, but for the future residents. Do something for your grandchildren and do something for those who are yet to be born.

Budget funds to pipe reclaimed water to Riverfront and Jim Kriegh Parks and the Pusch Ridge golf course.

I have researched this issue and have the numbers given to me by your staff. Pusch Ridge Golf course uses 30% more potable water than Riverfront and Jim Kriegh Parks combined. This is drinking water, not CAP water, not reclaimed water, but well water, drinking water.

According to a recent communication that I received from the Town, it will cost $8 million to pipe reclaimed water to all three of those entities. Once Jim Kriegh is on reclaimed water, it would not cost much to have the Amphi School District take CDO High School off of potable/drinking water as well.

This expenditure can be your legacy. This is something not only for now, but for the future. Put “tomorrow” in your budget. Put “we” in your budget.

Fund for the future. Fund to stop using potable/drinking water on Town-owned properties.

Guest View: Mike Zinkin – The Hypocrisy of our Town Leaders regarding Water Conservation

 

The Town of Oro Valley town codes require smart water use

Let’s look at the Town of Oro Valley’s Water Code. It is Chapter 15 of the Town Code which can be found on the Town’s website.

• Chapter 15-18-1 states: “The intent of this article is to conserve and protect the Town’s high quality, safe and reliable water supply for the current and future needs of the community.”

• Chapter 15-18-2 (which was amended in Oct. 2021) states: “…waste, excessive use, or unreasonable method of use of water be prevented, and that conservation of water be exercised in the interests of the Town of Oro Valley and for the public welfare.”

• Chapter 15-18-3 states: “It shall be unlawful at any time for any customer of the Town of Oro Valley Water Utility to knowingly make, cause, use or permit the use of water provided by the Town for residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, irrigation or any other purpose in a manner contrary to any provisions of this code.”

• Chapter 15-18-4 discusses potable water and the ramifications of a potential declared shortage. Paragraph E states: “Priority for potable water demand shall be designated as follows:

Highest Priority -- Residential indoor domestic use and fire protection.

Second Highest Priority -- Commercial/institutional/industrial uses.

Third Highest Priority -- Public and private landscape irrigation sites, including golf courses, athletic fields and parks.

Remember, we are talking about potable water, not reclaimed water. Potable water is drinking water.

Hypocrisy: Town wastes 55 million gallons of potable water on two parks and a golf course
The Town Code discusses water conservation and the importance of potable water use. However, our town continues to waste potable water on Riverfront Park, Jim Kriegh Park, and the Pusch Ridge Golf course.

In a 12-month period, the Town used for irrigation purposes 10,586,000 gallons at Riverfront Park and 9,973,000 gallons at Jim Kriegh Park, while at Pusch Ridge it used 34,608,000 gallons. Pusch Ridge utilized over 30% more water than both parks combined.

Questionable use of bond money
So what is our Town Council doing? They are spending bond money to replace -- as a past Council majority would say, “our beautiful tennis courts,” -- with post tension courts, install another splash pad at Naranja Park, and reconstruct and expand the Community Center parking lot.

How about spending bond money for the future of the entire community? And how about we stop over seeding the parks, close the Pusch Ridge course, and supply Jim Kriegh and Riverfront parks with reclaimed water?

Do something for the future of the entire town.
- - -
Mike Zinkin and his wife have lived in Oro Valley since 1998. He served on the Oro Valley Development Review Board from 2005-2009, the Board of Adjustment from 2011-2012, and the Town Council from 2012-2016. He was named a Fellow for the National League of Cities. He was a member of the NLC Steering Committee for Community and Economic Development and a member of the Arizona League of Cities Budget and Economic Development Committee. He was an Air Traffic Controller for 30 years. Mike has a Bachelor’s degree in history and government from the University of Arizona and a Master’s degree in Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education from California State University, Northridge.