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Arizonans willing to save water, want political action Page 1 of2 .. ... 000113 azcentral.com ~.. Email this article Print this article Most popular pages Click to send Click to print Today I This Week Arizonans willing to save water, want political action Shaun McKinnon The Arizona Republic Jan. 7,200512:00 AM Most Arizonans are ready to do their part to protect the state's water resources, but they want something in return. Leadership. A new Arizona Republic Poll indicates that a majority of those surveyed believe the Legislature should grant Gov. Janet Napolitano's request for the authority to impose water conservation measures if a serious need arises. Yet although those people seem willing to accept such measures, they want public officials to address wider issues. Of those asked, nearly nine in 10 favor giving rural leaders the power to stop new subdivisions if developers can't guarantee a long-term water supply. Those lopsided results in favor of conservation and regulation are likely the result of the ongoing drought, which has drawn attention to our water supply. The clear message is that Arizonans believe the state needs stronger, more consistent leadership in water conservation and management. "I get a little teed off when we travel along Union Hills in Glendale and the median is being watered in the midst of a rainstorm," said Claire Baker, a Peoria resident who participated in the poll. "Poor household people are being asked to do this and that, and the cities go on their merry way. I think they should be more conscientious than the people." Since imposing strict limits on the use of groundwater in mostly urban areas 25 years ago, state leaders have left water policy to local communities, whose programs have varied widely, depending on their resources. During the drought, the vast majority of cities in Arizona have been reluctant to impose mandatory cutbacks in water use. Instead, many have urged residents to use less on a voluntary basis. Some city governments, however, have imposed limits on their departments' use and have met their goals. Napolitano took similar action and ordered state agencies and universities to reduce consumption by 5 percent. The governor can impose water restrictions throughout the state if a formal emergency is declared, a complex process. But Napolitano believes she should have more authority to implement conservation measures in times of drought. In the Republic Poll, 57 percent of those asked favor giving Napolitano that power, http://www . azcentra1.com/php-bin/ clicktrack/print. php ?referer=http://www.azcentra1.com/...l/24/200 5