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Group Campaigns to Conserve Water: Door-to-Door Push Made for Stricter Development Rules

Posted on: Sunday, 11 June 2006, 15:00 CDT

By J. Craig Anderson, The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz.

Jun. 11--How serious is Keith Feikema about conserving Arizona's water supply?

Serious enough to trudge through East Valley neighborhoods in 100-degree heat seeking residents' support for tougher conservation measures.

Feikema is a citizen outreach director for Arizona Public Interest Research Group, also known as Arizona PIRG, a nonpartisan consumer and environmental protection organization conducting a door-to-door awareness and fund-raising campaign throughout the state.

The goal is to convince residents to lend their support in pressuring public officials to pass stricter laws limiting development where water is scarce.

"In 80 percent of the state, developers can build without an approved water supply," Feikema said. "That's just not sustainable."

PIRG members have been spreading their message throughout neighborhoods in Mesa, Gilbert, Scottsdale and other areas since mid-May, Feikema said. They hope to speak with at least 40,000 Arizona residents by summer's end.

Walking along Cornell Drive east of McClintock Drive in Tempe on Thursday, Feikema talked about the group's strategy to enact new water conservation rules drafted by PIRG.

The strategy includes explaining the problem to residents, handing out pamphlets and asking them to sign a register that will be used in the group's lobbying efforts. If enough people sign, PIRG hopes politicians will pledge their support for water conservation.

"Everyone wants to get reelected," Feikema said. "They want to know what their constituents are saying."

He also asks each homeowner for a donation to fund the group's efforts.

Tempe resident William Wiles chose not to donate but said he shares Feikema's fear about continued growth in a state with limited water resources.

"In general, I agree with the concern for our water supply," Wiles said.

Wiles' neighbor Nedra Johnson went a step further and whipped out her checkbook to make a $20 donation. Johnson said she has family members who grow cotton near Maricopa and may lose their livelihood because development is sucking up all the water. "They're out of water now," she said.

After thanking Johnson, Feikema headed off to the next house along the way, looking a little tired and sweaty but satisfied.

"It's actually really fun to come out here and get people talking about water," he said.

And don't worry about Feikema succumbing to the desert heat -- he brings along plenty of the wet stuff.

On the Web

Arizona Public Interest Research

Group at www.arizonapirg.org

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The Tribune

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