Starting in April, Lake Havasu City will switch to reclaimed water when irrigating some public parks and fields.
At Rotary Park and London Bridge Beach in Lake Havasu City, about 114,000 gallons of drinkable water are used to irrigate the grounds each day. The city council last week approved a $400,000 bid to use reclaimed water for those public parks, some playing fields and street landscaping.
City engineer Jeremy Abbott said the investment will ultimately save the city money and reserve drinking water for city growth.
“There’s future savings as far as the need for future water rights purchasing," he said. "As cities develop and grow, they may reach their current allowed allocation.”
He said the switch frees up more drinking water for future city growth and thinks the investment is a step in the right direction for more water conservation.
“It’s extremely important for us to make sure that we’re using the least amount of water possible and that when we do use the water, we’re using it in the smartest way possible," he said.
Abbott said the changeover process will be carefully monitored, using a dye to make sure no reclaimed water makes it into the drinking fountains at the parks.
