Goodyear's New Year's resolution: Use less water

About a third of Goodyear's water supply goes to watering resident's yards and lawns, a figure the city hopes to bring down next year.

Starting in January, Goodyear will offer home-water audits to help residents curb overwatering.

"We're seeing it as a great thing for people to do" as a New Year's resolution, said Water Conservation Specialist Sandra Rode.

The City Council approved this week a $50,000 contract with Smart Use LLC to provide about 200 audits on a first-come, first-served basis. An assessment can take up to two hours.

City water customers south of Interstate 10 can sign up for audits free. Litchfield Park Service Co. customers, north of I-10, will pay $150 after a small subsidy from the city.

Individual savings can vary anywhere from 4 to 70 percent, according to Rode. The pilot program will allow Goodyear officials to assess aggregate the savings over the next year.

Goodyear City Council approved the program as city department heads review their budgets ahead of budget cuts that could run up to 10 percent. The city is facing unplanned expenses after a developer was unable to meet its nearly $2.5 million-a-year commitment to the city.

Water Resources Director Shawn Bradford said the audit program is unlikely to be cut, though it could be if further cuts are needed.