Katie Meehan, the lead author of the Kings College London report and an expert in water governance and environmental justice. “Even as Phoenix grows and booms and moves up the chart in terms of size and becomes like a real destination city, its level of plumbing poverty hasn't really changed in 17 years,” said Dr. They recounted stories of saving up the $15 it would cost to take a shower at a truck stop, rationing how often they used the toilet, not eating because it meant dirtying dishes that would need to be washed later, building a makeshift shower. ![]() The Arizona Republic spoke with numerous people who lacked running water. One report from Kings College London estimated that more than 6,000 households in metro Phoenix live without complete plumbing, meaning they were missing hot and cold running water, indoor shower or bathtub, flushing toilet or some combination of them.Īnd there are over 9,000 people experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County, according to a January report, and many of them don’t have regular access to running water and sanitation. Public water utilities in the metro Phoenix disconnected water service to 13,002 households from January through May for periods of time ranging from a few hours to days or longer. There isn’t comprehensive data about how many people go without water at any given time, but figures from different reports suggest the number is at least in the tens of thousands. … It was just one long stretch of being bedridden, and then this.”įrequently thought of as a rural problem, the lack of running water is an often-hidden issue for large numbers of people in urban and suburban areas of metro Phoenix. ![]() “But for this, it caught us off guard and we couldn't be prepared. Be prepared as best as one can be,’” said Wiedman, who's 31. “I’m more the ‘life’s going to happen, so wait for the other shoe to drop at any moment. Mesa had shut off his water after the landlord failed to pay the water bill for two months. In late January, when Wiedman finally felt strong enough to stand for a shower, a third whammy hit him: The tap was dry. The illnesses sapped his energy so much that, for six weeks, he could barely get off the living room couch in the two-bedroom apartment he shares with his mom in Mesa. A few days later, he developed bronchitis. All rights reserved.Tim Wiedman caught COVID-19 last December. “If the water meter’s not moving, you probably don’t have a leak,” Donley said.Ĭopyright 2022 KTVK/KPHO. Check for leaks by watching your water meter when there’s no water running in the home. According to the EPA, the average family can lose 180 gallons a week from household leaks. Worn out toilet flappers and dripping faucets are also common causes of wasted water. “Usually, you’ll find it because you’ll have a muddy area or a soft area.” “Our number one is in landscaping because most of the landscaping plumbing is plastic, and so it’s much easier to break or leak,” Donley said. Though there weren’t any leaks detected at Harden’s house, leaks are common and can waste a lot of water. They also say to adjust sprinkler heads so they don’t spray sidewalks, driveways, walls, or buildings, and mow regularly to keep the grass from obstructing the sprinklers. ![]() If you want to make similar changes, the city recommends planting low-water-use plants and watching for signs of overwatering. Harden agreed to cut back on outdoor water use to see how much of a difference it makes. “At this point, we aren’t finding any leaks,” Mike Donley said. ![]() Donley’s team discovered two broken sprinkler heads, but no water was escaping from them. They checked the mainline to the house, the pipes inside, and the irrigation system. “I’m very concerned I’m paying for someone else’s water.” So 3 On Your Side asked Donley AC and Plumbing to help us investigate. “I want to know where it’s going or if there is some type of leak,” Harden said. “That is absolutely ridiculous for a single person, 62 years old, living alone,” she said.Īccording to the City of Phoenix, the average person in the Valley uses about 120 gallons of water a day, adding up to about 3,600 gallons per month. Then last month, according to her bill, Harden used almost 30,000 gallons of water at her Phoenix home. For the next few months, the bills remained higher than usual. PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) - A few months ago, Sharon Harden received a water bill that was more than her typical monthly charge.
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