Conserve Tucson's precious water by using it twice

A Tucson friend's outside shower waters the plants in their yard. 

You might have read in the news about the negotiations on the drought contingency plan. When they originally divided the water between the various states and Mexico, they divvied out more water than we have  - and didn't take into account Climate Change or our perpetual development. To exacerbate the problem some farmers still plant thirsty crops, while Rosemont Mine, over development and data centers threaten to deplete Tucson's ground water. We might wanna rethink the Four Cs of Arizona's Economy: copper, climate, cotton & citrus.

The city of Tucson has already reduced residential water usage during the past two decades. In 2010, our residential water usage rates were 94 gallons per capita per day. By 2015, Tucson’s water usage was down to 80 GPCD. As of early 2026, the average Tucson resident uses approximately 72 to 75 gallons of water per day. But we can do better than that. And we really need to.  

If you've followed my blog for a while, you know that I advocate for rainwater harvesting to make Tucson more water secure. On a regular rain year, there is enough water for every person in Tucson. Our outdoor water use accounts for up to 40% of residential water use in the Tucson area. So if more people harvested the rain, that would go a long way in conserving municipal water. 

Many of us are already conserving water by turning off the tap while brushing our teeth or while soaping our hands or scrubbing our hair in the shower.  Now that we've mastered that habit, the next step is to use our residential water twice when we can. 

State Senator Andrea Dalessandro, who sits on the Natural Resources and Energy committee, mentioned at Environmental Day at the Capitol that she puts a bucket in the shower to catch the water while it warms up. Way to walk the talk! Some friends of ours have installed lovely outdoor  showers that water their backyard landscaping. (I wouldn't recommend this in the front yard!) 

Here I am using our clean rinse water in our kitchen garden. 

I dump the dirty dish water in our compost pile to keep it moist.

Especially precious is the coffee ground water that my Tombstone Rosebush (my one sentimental extravagance) and tomatoes plants love. 

I like to use the veggie water from the steamer pan to nourish the soil by the tomato or curry plants.

We were blessed to have an outdoor washing machine. Dan easily rigged up a greywater system to irrigate sturdy, low water use heritage fig and pomegranate trees. (Our native trees are doing fine without any city water.) 

Tucson Water offers a rebate for greywater systems. 

Another easy way to use water twice is to let your yellow mellow by sharing one flush with your partner in the morning.  But Dan's big dream is to have a composting toilet like the one at Watershed Management Group. (I haven't encouraged this because I would never see my husband.) 

For some of you, that might seem a little extreme. An easier method is to use a low water toilet. Tucson Water says that installing a high efficiency toilet is one of the most impactful things you can do to save water. They even offer a rebate to encourage it. 

It's not always easy. But using water a second time is a great way to learn not to take our water for granted.

As our politicians bicker over who is entitled to our allotment of CAP water, it is becoming clear that it isn't a sustainable source. We need to transition to a more local system and start conserving water like we live in the desert. Because we do. 

More information: 

Lower Basin states offer short-term plan as conditions worsen on Colorado River - May 7, 2026

For Information on the social injustices caused by CAP read:

Hopis: Protectors of Earth and Water