Sun Cities residents urged to conserve water

Independent Newsmedia/Charlene Bisson

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OPINION — Living in the desert means living with limits, and water is the first one we should respect. Every summer reminds us that we are not fighting the heat, we are living in it. That means using our resources wisely, planting what survives here naturally and stopping the waste we see every day on our streets and sidewalks.

Nothing is more frustrating than watching sprinklers run full blast onto concrete. Sidewalks don’t need watering.

It is unsustainable. We cannot afford to lose water that we cannot replace.

The solution is not complicated. It is practical, affordable and proven: Plant more desert trees. Natural shade trees — palo verde, mesquite, ironwood and desert willow — are built for this climate.

They grow deep roots, tolerate extreme heat and, once established, require very little water. These trees don’t fight the desert. They work with it.

Shade is not decoration. It is protection. A mature desert tree can lower ground temperatures by 20 to 45 degrees, making sidewalks walkable, reducing heat stress and cutting energy use for nearby homes.

Shade cools entire neighborhoods, not just individual yards. When we plant the right trees, we reduce the need for turf, lower irrigation demands and create cooler microclimates that help everything else use less water.

Living in the desert requires common sense. Stop watering the sidewalk. Fix misaligned sprinklers. Choose native trees instead of thirsty ornamentals. Treat water like the limited resource it is.

If we do these simple things, we will build a cooler, healthier, more resilient community — one that respects the land we live in and protects the future we depend on.

Cindy Putman serves on the Sun City West Property Owners and Residents Association Board of Directors. She submitted this on behalf of PORA’s Water Committee. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.