The Phoenix City Council has approved a water conservation ordinance geared toward large water users, placing additional requirements on new projects estimated to use more than 250,000 gallons per day.

The unanimous vote implements a component of the Sustainable Desert Development Policy.

"Passing our new large water user ordinance is another important milestone in our longstanding commitment to a comprehensive approach to protect our water resources,” Mayor Kate Gallego said Wednesday.

“This new policy will ensure we are balancing our economic development priorities with the critical need to secure our water supply for generations to come.” 

 Other components of the Sustainable Desert Development guidelines passed last June include rezoning stipulations, which deal with regulations on non-functional turf, a mandate to meet EPA WaterSense or similar certification, planting of drought-tolerant and native plants, outdoor irrigation standards, enhanced standards for swimming pools and more.  

The new ordinance requires new large water users to submit a water conservation plan, which needs approval from the Phoenix Water Services Department.

Any new users projected to use more than 500,000 gallons per day must submit a conservation plan, meet at least 30 percent of their consumptive water demand with recycled or conserved water and fit within the city's existing Water Resource Portfolio, according to a city release.