1. /PHXWater @PHXWater Largest potable water provider in Arizona
8 treatment plants
Produce 100 billion gallons of water (270kaf/yr demand)
12,000 miles of water and sewer mains (540 sq mi)
Treat 63 billion gallons of wastewater
1,470 employees
$1.25B 5-yr Capital Improvement Program
Serve 1.5 million water and 2.5 million wastewater customers
@PHXWater
/PHXWater

2. Challenge: Drought & Shortage
Phoenix is not particularly vulnerable to natural disasters
No earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, volcanos, few floods, no blizzards
But it is very hot and always dry
Dendrochronology tells us that mega-droughts occur in our watersheds that literally decimate civilizations
Desert cities know the value of water
Therefore, Phoenix is built for drought
In a broad sense, every water-related action the City and its residents have undertaken since the City was founded has been for the purpose of mitigating or responding to drought. All of these activities are undertaken to ensure public safety, economic opportunity, and quality of life in a desert community that basically exists in perpetual drought. We do not focus on flash-in-the-pan efforts; we do not tend to be reactionary. Rather, we rely on strategic, methodical planning over the long term.
Source: NYPost.com

3. Sustainability
Historic focus on ensuring sustainable water supplies to provide for growth and continued availability during drought
Strategies:
Took the long-term view, planning out for 100+ years
Acquired more surface water supplies than needed under non- drought conditions to provide a buffer during surface water shortages
Acquired physically and legally diverse supplies
Colorado River, Salt & Verde River, groundwater, reclaimed water, water stored underground
Directly tied the ability to grow to adequate water supplies through the State’s 100-year Assured Water Supply rules

4. Sustainability Strategies:
In the 1980’s central Arizona adopted major groundwater legislative reform through the 1980 groundwater management act. With some limited exceptions, it outlawed fossil groundwater mining and set a goal of “safe yield” for local aquifers that were enforced through the 100-year assured water supply rules.
Strategies:
Successful conversion in the 1980’s from dependence on fossil groundwater mining to renewable surface water supplies
Intentionally saved fossil groundwater supplies for future generations
Invested hundreds of millions of dollars into surface water treatment plant infrastructure

5. Sustainability Strategies:
Settled disputes over water rights with Indian communities, agricultural districts, and rural communities
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Gila River Indian Community, White Mountain Apache Tribe, San Carlos Apache Tribe, Fort McDowell Indian Community
Settlements brought certainty, created benefits for all communities, and developed new relationships

6. Sustainability Strategies:
Reclaimed all wastewater and re-used it for nuclear power generation, agriculture, local wetlands, and in exchange for surface water supplies
Began very aggressive water conservation programs in the 80’s, focus on changing culture
Used rate structure to discourage outdoor use
Residential GPCD now 100
30% lower than peak in ’96

7. Phoenix embraced a desert lifestyle

8. Phoenix neighborhood 2007
Percent of total area of parcel covered by turf.

9. Phoenix neighborhood 2010
Percent of total area of parcel covered by turf.

10. Phoenix neighborhood 2013
Percent of total area of parcel covered by turf.

11. Phoenix’s Water Supplies
Salt & Verde River Water
Supply 60% of demand
Rights are appurtenant to the Project lands
Phoenix’s rights are very senior in the Salt/Verde system
Water allocations governed by local board, that can vote to reduce allocations to protect reservoir levels
SRP developed wells that can also feed into the canal system as a redundant supply during drought
Phoenix uses only half of its entitlement
There is “give” in the system
Resilient System

12. Phoenix’s Water Supplies
Colorado River Water
Supplies 40% of demand
Canal owned by feds, operated by CAP
Phoenix water rights are contractual
Phoenix uses 66% of its Colorado River entitlement
CAP rights are junior in the lower basin
Water allocations handled through the most complex governance system possible: “The Law of the River”
CAP has no well redundancy
Water Phoenix does not use is turned back to CAP and reallocated to the next highest priority user
Every single acre-foot available on the Colorado is allocated every single year
No “give” in the system
Not a Resilient System

13. Addressing System Risk
Phoenix has good plumbing, diverse supplies, can withstand shortage…BUT
Phoenix is vulnerable to a Colorado River system crash
Have given up wells in pursuit of sustainability
Phoenix can meet only about 3% of its peak demands with wells

14. Local/Regional Resiliency Strategies
Drill more wells! Fast!
Phoenix-Tucson partnership
Phoenix stores Colorado River water in Tucson aquifers
During shortage on the Colorado River, Tucson pumps that stored water out of its well field
Tucson’s Colorado River water is delivered to Phoenix surface water treatment plants
Tucson benefits in the short term with higher water tables and lower pumping costs
Phoenix benefits long term with assured surface water deliveries

15. System Level Resiliency Strategies
Ultimate Colorado River Resiliency goal is a system with some “give”
Phoenix wants to collectively address Lower Basin resiliency problems
Colorado River System Conservation program
System water provides a buffer against drought, climate change, helps provide hydrological and political stability
Source: Gonzo fan 2007 Wikimedia Commons

16. Phoenix Colorado River Resiliency Fund
Phoenix is willing to support new approaches and partnerships
Council approval of a Colorado River Resiliency Fund
$5-6M/YR
To be used for various resiliency efforts
Storage of unused Colorado River water in Tucson and local aquifers
Additional production and recharge wells
Watershed protection strategies
Other system efforts (e.g., expanded system conservation)

17. As a reminder, around 60% of the water utility’s expenses are related to capital.

18. Smart pipeline management
$11B divided by 75 years is $145M/yr. Currently we spend around
7000/75 = 93 miles per year. Currently we replace between per year. CIP provides for us to gear up to miles per year.
24% of our pipes are 50 years old or older
348 miles of pipe need to be replace in the 2020’s, approximately 35 miles per year.