Phoenix approves overhaul of water standards for new construction amid water shortages
Phoenix City Council in June passed “The Sustainable Desert City Development Policy,” a resolution that hopes to reduce water usage by residential and commercial customers via more efficient building standards and some water restrictions. Though it’s not enforceable unless it becomes city code, developers could have a harder time getting approval for projects that don’t follow the policies. The changes include landscaping, water efficiency standards and new regulations for businesses that use 250,000 gallons of water a day. Homes would need to be certified as water-efficient by a third party, and the use of grass in non-functional areas would be curtailed. A recent moratorium on homes on the outskirts of the Valley that rely on groundwater won’t affect the city, however, and doesn’t include multifamily projects.
