Despite July’s record heat, Scottsdale says it cut water use by 7% compared to the same time last year. That 7% reduction saved nearly 18 million gallons of water. 

In January 2022, Stage 1 of Scottsdale’s drought management plan took effect. The stage focuses on increased monitoring and evaluation activities.

The city asked residents and businesses to voluntarily cut water use by 5% and avoid outdoor watering during the hottest hours to prevent evaporation loss. Scottsdale is seeing more interest in the city's grass removal rebate program and educational campaigns on desert landscape watering. 

This month, Scottsdale began banning natural grass in the front yards of new homes being planned or built. 

Last fall, the council approved a code change to stop HOAs from mandating homeowners to overseed their lawn. Overseeding is a way people install a temporary winter lawn to cover summer grass that’s turned brown.