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The Tucson region is served by a number of organizations, both public and private, that provide basic utilities and services to local residents. Utilities are regulated by the Arizona Corporation Commission.
Tucson Water, the City's municipal water utility, provides 77% of the potable water supplies in the greater Tucson Metropolitan area, drawing mainly from groundwater and surface water supplies; Metro Water, Oro Valley Water, the Flowing Wells Irrigation District, and a number of smaller water utilities also serve the Tucson metro area.
Water in the desert?
A healthy and prosperous Tucson depends on ensuring adequate supplies of water are available to meet the daily and long-term needs of the community, while preserving the desert environment that is a major contributor to Tucson's high quality of life. Wise planning and a strong environmental ethic have allowed Tucson to become a leader in water conservation and motivated the community to move to renewable water resources such as Colorado River water and the reuse of wastewater for irrigation. As a result, Tucson's water future is more secure than ever.
The City of Tucson relies upon three primary water resources: groundwater, Colorado River water, and reclaimed water. Tucson has legal and physical access to about 4 million acre-feet of groundwater, but historic overuse of this resource both locally and in other areas of the State has led to environmental damage and legal mandates to reduce reliance on this fragile resource. For this reason, the City has been successfully integrating renewable supplies into its water resource portfolio.
The City also has access to Colorado River water, which is imported via the Central Arizona Project. The City's current annual allocation exceeds 44 billion gallons. This renewable resource will, over time, largely replace groundwater as Tucson's primary drinking water supply.
The third source is reclaimed water -- wastewater that has been treated to exacting standards for use in irrigation as a replacement for potable water. Treated wastewater is the only water resource that increases as the population increases. Tucson Water has access to about 12 billion gallons of treated wastewater each year. Reclaimed water is currently used for irrigation by more than 700 commercial, industrial, and residential customers, including 15 golf courses, more than 40 school yards, 30 parks, the University of Arizona, and Pima Community College.
Water conservation is key
Water conservation provides a critical "fourth" resource. Tucsonans can be justifiably proud of their national leadership in effective use of water. Tucson Water has encouraged water conservation for more than 3 decades, and as a result Tucson has one of the lowest per capita water usage rates in the southwestern United States. Strengthening our conservation ethic is a key strategy in ensuring our future sustainability.
Wise use of all these water resources requires planning. Tucson Water has developed a Long Range Water Resources Plan which provides a comprehensive look at Tucson's future water supply requirements. Using the plan as a guideline allows the community to implement projects and programs that will provide adequate water supplies to meet the needs of future generations. View Tucson Water's Long Range Water Resources Plan.
For assistance with expansion/retention of your existing Tucson-area business or if you are considering relocating/expanding to the Tucson region, contact:
Lee J. Smith
Sr. Vice President, Business Development
520.243.1909 or lee.smith@treoaz.org
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