Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
projects in exchange for water supply and controversial proposals to construct pipe-
lines from outside the state and region to deliver water.* In addition, Nevada and other
Colorado River Basin states has provided funding for the construction of the Drop 2
reservoir along the lower Colorado River to retain water that might otherwise be lost
and sent downstream without beneficial use. Nevada has been aggressive in curtailing
water uses with restrictions and a program to pay residents to remove turf grass and
install desert landscaping.
26.6.4 Phoenix
Phoenix has been blessed with having the ability to draw on several sources of water to
accommodate growth. The Salt River Project that was established in 1911 has provided a
continuous supply of water to the cities by the canal system. In addition, many indepen-
dent water providers in the region use or augment their water supply through groundwa-
ter pumping. The construction of the CAP has added an additional source of water from
the Colorado River. As a result, Phoenix has benefited from being at a unique geographical
position in the hydrologic regime. Even with the more abundant water resources available
to the city, Phoenix is still facing obstacles to unbridled growth through the state water
regulations set forth in the Arizona Groundwater Act of 1980. The onset of drought condi-
tions in recent years caused the Salt River Project to reduce their 2003 allotments to cities
for only the third time in the 50-year history of the utility. The reservoirs were at 27% of
normal capacity by the end of 2002. 7 Today, Phoenix is aggressively working on water
conservation and public education on water conservation.
26.6.5 Tucson
Early efforts to develop water banking and storage projects in the Tucson area suffered
a major defeat from public support in paying for these large-scale projects. As a result,
Tucson has been forced to rely on groundwater pumping as the primary source of water
for the city. Tucson Water Company established wells along Valencia Road south of the
city as the main supply source. The growing need for urban water motivated the city to
begin purchasing land in the Avra Valley region to serve as water farms to be piped into
the Tucson Valley. In addition, Tucson began purchasing water companies outside the city
limits so that it could begin a basin-wide management strategy for water resources.
In 1990, the CAP canal to Tucson was completed, thus providing long anticipated relief
from the water deficit problems of the region. Problems soon arose from the use of CAP
water for residential use. Colorado River water is harder and contains a larger share
of total dissolved solids than local groundwater. More importantly, CAP water began
causing corrosion problems in the residential water infrastructure. After angry protests
from area residents, Tucson Water backed off the direct use of CAP water in the potable
water system. In 1995, Tucson voters approved the Water Consumer Protection Act that
restricted the use of CAP for residential use, unless it conformed to the local water qual-
ity standards. The water supply situation in Tucson is still a critical issue. Long-term
groundwater pumping is causing areas of land subsidence, and area wells are going dry
* http://www.8newsnow.com/story/6963917/big-water-battle-brewing-with-snake-valley-utah?redirected=true
(accessed April 7, 2012).
h t t p://a g. a r i z o n a . e du/a z w a t e r/aw r/m ay j u n e 0 8/f e a t u r e1. h t m l (accessed April 6, 2012).
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