Oro Valley

Oro Valley

Climate Zone

My town is in the Low Elevation Climate Zone. This zone consists of deserts ranging from 100 to 3,500 feet. Annual precipitation ranges from 3 to 12 inches.

Seasonal Tips

Fall in the low elevation climate zone is warm to mild. Summer monsoon thunderstorms generally die down by the end of September, and temperatures cool in November.

  • Adjust irrigation and watering schedule when the temperature cools --- usually in November.
  • Collect late monsoon rainwater from your roof by installing gutters and downspouts, and direct rainwater to your plants.
  • Water plants early in the morning to reduce evaporation.
  • Reduce the flow of bleed-off water discharged from evaporative coolers, and use it to irrigate plants that are not sensitive to the salts. 
  • Turn off automatic watering systems when it rains, or install a rain sensor to do this automatically. 

Winter in the low elevation climate zone is mild, with only occasional hard frosts that do not usually occur past mid-February. Winter rains storms are less intense than those in summer; they last longer and engulf large portions of the region.

  • Adjust irrigation and watering schedule for cooler winter temperatures and shorter days-generally to about 1/3 of the summer frequency. 
  • Reduce irrigation to trees and shrubs to one deep watering of the root zone per month.
  • Collect winter rainfall from your roof by installing gutters and downspouts, and direct rainwater to your plants.
  • Turn off automatic watering systems when it rains, or install a rain sensor to do this automatically. 

Spring in the low elevation climate zone is mild, with temperatures warming significantly in May, one of the driest months of the year.

  • Adjust irrigation and watering schedule for warmer temperatures and plant growth, especially the typically dry month of May. 
  • Apply mulch around the base of plants to conserve moisture and prevent weeds.
  • Reduce the flow of bleed-off water discharged from evaporative coolers, and use it to irrigate plants that are not sensitive to the salts. 
  • Turn off sprinklers and postpone watering on windy days to reduce evaporation loss. 

Summer in the low elevation climate zone is very hot, and early summer is very dry. The monsoon (mid-June to the end of September) brings spotty, intense thunderstorms of short duration.

  • Adjust irrigation and watering schedule for hot summer temperatures, especially the the dry month of June.
  • Collect monsoon rainwater from your roof by installing gutters and downspouts, and direct rainwater to your plants.
  • Water plants early in the morning to reduce evaporation.
  • Reduce the flow of bleed-off water discharged from evaporative coolers, and use it to irrigate plants that are not sensitive to the salts. 
  • Turn off automatic watering systems when it rains, or install a rain sensor or smart controller to do this automatically. 

Community Water System Map

The Community Water Systems (CWS) Interactive Map provides a detailed look at all of the Community Water Systems and the areas they serve.  You have the option to search for a water system by using the search feature and entering the CWS Number (91-), ADEQ Number (AZ...), or the water system name.  Another option is to select the service area on the map, where a pop-up will open providing you with the details of that water system.  Some of the information provided in the pop-up includes: owner name, address, phone number, CWS number, ADEQ number and population of the service area.  If you select your Community Water System and find the information to be incorrect, please contact ADWR so we can update your records.

 

Resources

 

Events

There's a variety of classes and workshops available around the state that you can participate in to learn more about outdoor water conservation. Many of these events are free.