OPINION — Polls show water ranks atop the issues local voters consider most important. It’s no surprise, then, to see politicians make dubious claims about water usage to sway voters.
Councilman Barry Graham has made water central to his opposition to building new apartments. He claims higher-density apartment and condominium communities put more stress on Scottsdale's water supply compared to single-family neighborhoods. That’s exactly the sort of “politician speak” that clouds an issue that’s vital to the city’s future.
The facts show that apartment communities generally use water more efficiently than single-family home developments. Scottsdale’s 2018 Design Standards and Policy Manual estimates that the average single family home uses about 248 gallons of water daily. Residents who live in higher-density condos use about 185 gallons of water daily. That’s a 25 percent difference daily.
