Phoenix has long recognized that water is a most precious resource in its arid, desert environment. Phoenix has taken great care to plan, acquire and manage its water resources, including innovative water conservation, recharge and reclamation programs. Phoenix has had a water conservation program since the 1980's, and has steadily reduced its reliance on groundwater from 35 percent in 1984 to 3 percent today. Through innovative ordinances and programs, Phoenix's per capita water usage has decreased approximately 20 percent during the last 20 years. Phoenix continues its legacy of careful water planning and conservation outreach, and various city departments assist in this effort by implementing innovative water-saving approaches.
Water Utility Sustainability
Unlike older urban areas of the United States, Phoenix has relatively modern, sophisticated infrastructure to meet the Water and Wastewater needs of our customers. Sustainable practices include:
- Separate storm sewer and sanitary sewer systems, eliminating the problem of combined storm overflows and associated water quality problems;
- 100 percent metered connections to the system, encouraging efficient use;
- A seasonal water rate structure that encourages efficiency through a higher charge during the hottest summer months.
Water Resource Sustainability
The city of Phoenix is a national leader in utilization of long-term sustainable water sources in an arid environment. Following the enactment of the 1980 Arizona Groundwater Management Act, Phoenix shifted its portfolio to rely mainly on renewable, surface water supplies, saving the groundwater as a backup for extended droughts.
- Aquifer Management - In cooperation with other local agencies, the city engages in groundwater recharge and groundwater savings activities. Groundwater usage has been reduced from approximately 35 percent of the Phoenix water supply in 1984 to only 3 percent today in a normal supply (non-drought) year.
- Long-term Planning - Phoenix regularly updates its long-term Water Resources Plan to ensure continued water supplies for current and future customers. The 2011 Water Resources Plan Update reflects growth over the next 50 years under a variety of conditions (current density, high density, etc). Modeling conducted to determine the stability of the water resource portfolio demonstrated that Phoenix is positioned well to meet future needs and to comply with the State's 100 year Assured Water Supply requirement. The 2005 Update identifies several functional plans and projects necessary to meet our future water needs.
- Research and Innovation - The city of Phoenix actively participates in groundwater research and regional coordination efforts examining in the Phoenix Metropolitan area. In addition, the city is embarking on a groundwater management study to identify the volume of groundwater and the number of wells needed to: 1) meet demands under moderate drought conditions; 2) provide necessary operating system flexibility to meet peak demands, and 3) maintain a reasonable volume of water to customers during system emergencies. The study will address recharge needs within the service area, and recommend ways to best manage available reclaimed water supplies.
- Drought Planning/Climate Change - Phoenix has been involved in studies aimed at determining the length and severity of past droughts in the area using tree rings. From these studies, the city has increased its drought planning horizon. In addition, long term plans have accounted for future climate change by assuming a long-term reduction in precipitation in the watershed.
Conservation Outreach
Phoenix is committed to ensuring a sustainable water supply through comprehensive water management programs. The city's Water Conservation program was established in 1986 and includes extensive public education activities, plumbing retrofit initiatives and water use efficiency requirements for new development. Implementation of conservation initiatives has resulted in a per-capita reduction of approximately 20 percent over the last 20 years, well below the standard established for Phoenix by the Arizona Department of Water Resources. The city continues to build on its success with a new "Enhanced Conservation Program" initiative which seeks further efficiencies. In addition to working with the community, the Water Services Department (WSD) works with city departments to reduce water use.
Water Conservation: Parks and Recreation Department (PRD)
- PRD is piloting a new water conditioning system which will ionize the water with a low voltage electrical charge. The energized water is intended to more efficiently penetrate the soil, be more easily absorbed by plant tissue, and allow fertilizers to be utilized more efficiently. Initial results at the Maryvale Baseball Stadium and Coyote Basin Park indicate a 30 percent savings in water use during the trial period.
Synthetic turf has been installed by PRD on two soccer fields, reducing water use by more than 2 million gallons of water per year. Energy is saved due to reduced electrical use on pump systems, and use of fertilizers and pesticides is reduced. The fields also use recycled rubber as infill for the turf.- Reclaimed water is used for irrigation at Desert Willow Park, Cashman Park and Reach 11 Sports Complex.
- PRD uses central irrigation control with a weather- based evapotranspiration system at all golf courses and 9 major parks. Central irrigation control systems allow for centralized monitoring and adjustments of sprinkler operations. Water is saved by using weather equipment to measure the amount of evaporation, allowing application of only the required amount of water. Energy savings are also achieved.
- PRD is experimenting with different turf grass to conserve water, reduce maintenance, and determine which varieties perform better with reclaimed water. Grass varieties are matched for site specific needs ranging from retention basin parks to sports fields.
Water Conservation: Other Departments
- The Sky Harbor International Airport uses xeriscaping concepts, which are aesthetically pleasing and functional while minimizing the maintenance requirements. The Sky Harbor International Airport received Valley Forward's Environmental Excellence Award for both Water Conservation and its xeriscaping program.
- At Ed Pastor Transit Center, rainwater caught by the shade canopy is used to irrigate vegetation in the retention area. (The Ed Pastor Center also received a Valley Forward Environmental Excellence Award for historic preservation activities.)
- The Neighborhood Services Department (NSD) coordinates the Curb appeal projects, which are sponsored by the Maryvale Revitalization Corporation, the city of Phoenix, private sector, and volunteers. The Curb Appeal Projects add green space and revitalize homes by providing desert landscaping.
Water Quality
Phoenix's tap water meets or exceeds all federal and state requirements for health and safety. The city of Phoenix must adhere to even more stringent requirements than bottled water producers. Over 4 million tests and measurements are performed each year in the treatment and distribution systems to ensure water quality. Phoenix has state-of-the-art equipment and laboratories which test for more than 100 different substances, and submits hundreds or reports each year to the appropriate regulatory agencies.
Reclaimed Water Management
Over 90 percent of the water "reclaimed" from Phoenix's wastewater treatment facilities is reused. The city's Cave Creek Reclamation Plant generates reclaimed water to serve golf courses and parks in North Phoenix, thus freeing up potable supplies. Reclaimed water from the larger 91st Avenue and 23rd Avenue wastewater treatment plants is utilized for crop irrigation, industrial cooling at the APS Nuclear Plant and for habitat restoration uses along the Salt River. Phoenix has also entered into an innovative "three way exchange" program with the Salt River Project and the Roosevelt Irrigation District which allows the city to deliver reclaimed water to farms and receive surface water in return at city water treatment plants. The city continues to evaluate further means to effectively utilize this important resource, including underground storage and recovery.
Bio Solids Reuse
The Water Services Department participates in the National Biosolids Partnership (NBP), for environmentally sound and effective biosolids reuse. Biosolids, which result from treatment of municipal sewage, are processed to reduce or eliminate pathogens, minimize odors, and provide a beneficial agricultural product instead of landfilling.