ARIZONA DAILY STAR:  Thurs., May 15, 2008

Saving water is goal of Marana plan

By Brian J. Pedersen

Long before much of Marana's farmland was being turned into housing tracts, town officials laid the groundwork for future conservation efforts to ensure that it never would run out of water.

More than a decade later, Marana is close to instituting some official water-use guidelines. A water-conservation ordinance containing a series of measures could be up for a vote by the Marana Town Council within the next 30 to 60 days.

The measures, outlined in a presentation given to the council on April 8, are the result of a joint effort between the town and the Water Conservation Alliance of Southern Arizona. They would apply only to new construction in areas served by Marana Water, which covers nearly all of the Old Marana area and some sections of other parts of the town.

Among the measures, Marana would require any new development with at least a half-acre of landscapable area to have a separate water meter that charts the amount of water used to irrigate its turf and plants. The same goes for any existing development that expands its turf area to more than a half-acre.

FULL STORY:   http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/238870