Testing the waters: Tucson links water conservation with environmental benefits

A joint City of Tucson & Pima County Water Study has supported innovative mechanism called Conserve to Enhance (C2E) program by the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center (WRRC), establishing a set of shared policy goals. The study recommended using the C2E program as a funding source to acquire water supplies for the environment. The Tucson C2E Program required implementing water conservation methods, tracking the money they save on their water bills, and donating savings to a fund for local riparian enhancement. In Tucson, the C2E pilot has taken a major step toward securing water to benefit the local environment. Implementing a pilot program that connects municipal water savings to local enhancement projects required overcoming several locally specific obstacles and securing the help of key partners.