Nestled against the slopes of the Huachuca Mountains, Sierra Vista is the retail, health, and education hub of Cochise County. The largest community in the county, Sierra Vista is known for its beautiful landscapes and rich history. The city began its roots as a small settlement outside the gates of historic Fort Huachuca and has developed into a vibrant and resilient community.

Sierra Vista’s development has long been shaped by the natural resources within and surrounding the community. One of the most important being water. Addressing the need to protect this precious natural resource is intertwined within the city’s history and remains just as relevant today.

Water conservation means reducing water waste and using our water as efficiently as possible. Water conservation is also most effective when everyone is doing their part, including water utilities, municipal government, and end users like residents and businesses. Although the city has multiple private water utilities, Sierra Vista is one community with common goals for the future. While much good work has been done, together we can continue to shape a bright future by using our natural resources responsibly.

On September 12, 2026, local water utility Arizona Water Company (AWC), in partnership with the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension’s Water Wise Program and the City of Sierra Vista, launched The Long View, an Integrated Demand Management Program (IDMP) that builds upon existing water conservation resources for the community.

Sierra Vista has a long history of water conservation. From being the first community in the nation to adopt the EPA’s WaterSense guidelines as standards for future residential development to recharging billions of gallons of treated wastewater back into the aquifer, the community has a list of award-winning efforts. Learn more at: https://www.sierravistaaz.gov/our-city/departments/marketing-communications/environmental-stewardship

Individually, each partner in the IDMP already provides water conservation resources for the community, but when it comes to water, there is always more that can be done. Through the IDMP, leaders in the community will collaborate and share resources to build on the existing foundation for water conservation. The goal is to educate the community on complex water strategies and empower the community to take action.

Water conservation means being mindful of every drop we use, because we have enough water, but never enough to waste. With a groundwater-based system like Sierra Vista, every gallon of water conserved is a gallon of water left in the local aquifer and saved for the future. While the water future in Arizona and the Southwest United States becomes more complicated and strained, Sierra Vista will not rest on its laurels. Together we will continue to manage our resources responsibly for the good of Sierra Vista today, tomorrow, and well into the future. That’s The Long View.

It’s never too late to start thinking about water resources and start saving water! The Long View IDMP will be a centralized hub where people in Sierra Vista can:

• learn about water resources through the upcoming Water Journey Video
• stay up to date with the FAQs
• and learn tips and tricks they can easily do to conserve more water through the dedicated Facebook page

Some other resources that already exist for the community to help strengthen the water conservation ethic are the:

• Rainwater barrel giveaway and workshop event
  • These events occur at least once a year and allow AWC and Liberty customers to get up to two rain barrels at $20 a barrel, to help with harvesting rainwater.
• 4th Grade Water Festivals
  • Done through Arizona Project WET, sponsored by Liberty Utilities and AWC: link
• Youth Education Classes
  • Done through the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension’s Water Wise Program: link
• Adult Education Workshops
  • Done by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extensions’s Master Gardeners: link
• Free Residential Water Efficiency Checkups
  • Done through U of A Water Wise: link
• Free Commercial Water Efficiency Checkups
  • Done through AWC: link
• Toilet Rebate Resources
  • County-wide toilet rebate program: link
  • City of Sierra Vista Toilet Rebate Program: link
  • Arizona Water Company toilet rebate program: link
• Free Water Conservation Kits
  • State-wide Water Wise Conservation Kits: link
  • Arizona Water Company Water Conservation Kits: link

The partners involved in the IDMP are not the only ones working hard to conserve water in Sierra Vista. Liberty Utilities has a long-standing history of providing water conserving goods and services for the community. For information on what Liberty offers their customers, please visit: https://arizona.libertyutilities.com/avondale/residential/smart-water-use/conservation.html