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Farms swallowing most of Arizona's water Page 3 of 4 Who consumes So aside from homes and farms, how is water used? Here's the breakdown for consumption in Maricopa County: . Industry. Water-consuming businesses, such as computer-chip makers or soda and beer bottlers, use about 6 percent of the water in the county. The computer industry is working on more-efficient use. Tempe recently helped a high-tech company cut its water use by nearly one-third by installing a recirculating loop on its cooling system. Water that was once used and discarded is now used several times, until it becomes too concentrated with minerals. . Construction. Sand and gravel operations use about 4 percent of the county's industrial water supply. Construction companies use a steady supply at work sites to comply with dust-control laws. Road and highway construction also consumes water. . Golf courses. Everyone's favorite culprit, golf courses use two-thirds of the industrial supply, or about 4 percent to 5 percent of the total supply. Some courses use treated effluent, or "gray water." Scottsdale, for example, requires any new course to use gray water or bring its own supply. . Dairy farms. Their use is counted as industrial, and they still use about 8 percent of the water consumed by that sector, or just under one-half of 1 percent of the county total. Although many dairy operations have moved out of Greater Phoenix into Pinal County, others have shifted within the county to Gila Bend. . Government and other public uses. Although no specific figure is available, this is one of the larger categories. It includes city parks, public schools, community colleges and universities, along with everyday government operations. In Phoenix, for example, public golf courses use less than 1 percent of the total water delivered in a year, public areas such as schools and parks use about 2 percent. Cutting usage State and local leaders say they have long been looking for ways to cut water use, or at least find better ways to use water. In some cases, it simply meant paying attention to accidental losses or wasteful practices. In response to the drought, Gov. Janet Napolitano ordered state agencies and universities to cut water use by 5 percent, a step already taken by many cities, including Phoenix. Most of the cities achieved far greater savings, many without cutting services, and Napolitano said she believes the state can easily operate on 5 percent less water, drought or not. Working with the state Department of Transportation, Mesa has saved more than 635 million gallons of water since 1996 by adjusting water use on freeway landscaping. In 2002, the city created a program to reduce water throughout its operations, and that effort has exceeded goals. "We looked at it from dollar efficiency, water efficiency and the drought," said Becky Zusy, a conservation specialist for Mesa. "We wanted to set an example for our residents, as well. One of the biggest tasks was to find out where the water went and whether it was the appropriate amount. You need to understand why you're using the water you're using." Water management One of the obstacles to a more comprehensive statewide water plan is the lack of http://www . azcentral.com/php-bin/ clicktrack/print. php ?referer=http://www.azcentral.com/...l /24/2005