The water use information recorded by the dual measuring devices will be used to devise water conservation strategies. Water CASA, a Water Resources Research Center program at the University of Arizona, is a cooperative of small water utilities and includes the Flowing Wells Irrigation District. A hard hat luncheon on Dec. 1 marked the sinking of the first dual-metering system in the ground at Sagewood. Data will be gathered for over 20 years for a longitudinal study of changes in water use that occur seasonally and as landscapes mature and families grow or change. This type of water use data has not been readily available and will enable officials to test the effectiveness of a variety of water conservation strategies.
Project plans call for dual systems to be eventually installed at two other subdivisions.
With three separately priced subdivisions the research possibilities of the project broaden to include an examination of socio-economic variables affecting water use. Researchers will be able to select households from the different dual-metered housing developments to create a population mix or sample to test particular water conservation strategies. Through this mixing and matching among communities a population sampling can include various socio-economic factors along with other variables. A control group also can be identified. Little says they are looking for cooperative subdivisions in areas served by two other Water CASA utilities, Metro-Ora Valley and the Town of Marana.