MARICOPA COUNTY, ARIZONA

Phoenix

Water Use: 161.5 gallons per person, per day

Threatened Species: Nesting bald eagles, southwestern willow flycatcher, humpback chub, razorback sucker

The Arizona Department of Water Resources features a quote on its website: “We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.” You might think this hot, dry state knew the value of water, but a whopping 70 percent of individual water use flows to outdoor consumption that doesn’t make sense in a desert climate, like watering lawns, filling swimming pools and washing cars. And the state’s capitol sets a poor example by being one of the biggest per capita water hogs in the country. Some small improvements have been made – Phoenix now uses reclaimed water from the Cave Creek Water Reclamation Plant to irrigate turf – but there’s much more the city and its residents can do to save water, from smarter landscaping to curbing daily consumption.

The water in Maricopa County’s sprinklers and pipes comes from the Salt River Project, which includes the Salt and Verde river systems. Many migratory bird species depend on these river systems as critical flyaway habitat. The Verde is home to nesting bald eagles, beaver, river otter, rare species of reptiles and amphibians, and many species of native fish. Maricopa also pulls water from the Colorado River, which has been stressed by outdated competing water rights that serve several western water hog cities including Phoenix, Las Vegas and Los Angeles and pre-date booming population growth in the region.