Governor declares drought and urges conservation

On May 22, 2007, Governor Napolitano signed a Drought Declaration for the State of Arizona(pdf) to raise awareness of Arizona's drought and encourage conservation. Arizona is entering its second decade of a statewide drought due to long-term precipitation deficits and increased demand for water. The declaration calls upon citizens, businesses, schools, institutions of higher learning, local governments and federal agencies to increase water conservation efforts.

Arizona's drought declaration provides a mechanism for both preparedness and response to drought through the implementation of the Arizona Drought Preparedness Plan and action of local drought impact groups. The state is implementing proactive measures to limit the effects of the long-term dry spell and minimize the risk of a drought emergency situation. By creating a culture of conservation, we can greatly reduce the impacts of drought on our natural resources, our economy, and our quality of life. Adopting a low water use lifestyle can be accomplished through simple changes to our daily routines. Visit ADWR's conservation web site at www.azwater.gov/dwr/Conservation/ for outdoor and indoor water conservation tips.