This investment will be used to provide safe drinking water and replace and improve existing water distribution systems.
water
Senate Advances Water Package Including Sinema-Secured Tribal Water Funding
Bipartisan package includes Sinema’s work to provide $250 million over 5 years for Tribal Drinking Water Program
The U.S. Senate advanced the bipartisan Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act—bipartisan legislation that strengthens Arizona’s water future and includes $250 million for the Tribal Drinking Water Program that Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema secured.
“I am proud to see the Senate come together and pass today’s legislation with bipartisan support. Investing in water resource and infrastructure projects across Arizona strengthens our state’s economy and water future,” said Sinema.
The bipartisan Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act invests $35 billion for water resource projects that include aging infrastructure, new technologies, and water security for Arizona and tribal communities.
Key Arizona priorities in the legislation include:
- Reauthorization of the Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program and provides $50 million annually, for a total of $250 million over 5 years, to EPA to fund tribal water projects, with dedicated funding set-aside for 10 tribal water projects in Arizona each year.
- $25 million a year for Pilot Programs for Alternative Water Source Projects, including desalination plants, and storm water and wastewater reuse plants. Arizona is the nation’s leader in water reclamation and reuse technologies.
- $50 million per year for resiliency grants to public water and wastewater systems to secure infrastructure from cyber threats and from risks posed by climate change, including extreme drought and wildfires.
- $280 million per year for Sewer Overflow and Storm water Reuse Municipal Grants, to help cities, including Arizona’s border communities, with planning, construction, and design of treatment works for wastewater systems.
- Increased funding to directly benefit small, disadvantaged, rural, and tribal communities to invest in community water projects that address aging infrastructure and improve water quality through the State Revolving Loan Funds.
- Increased investment to address recruitment, training, and retention challenges facing the water and wastewater utility workforce.
- Significant investments in technical assistance and new and emerging technologies that result in cleaner, safer, and more reliable water.
In February, Sinema called fort he Bureau of Reclamation to address the $13 million budget shortfall necessary to complete the Rural Water Based System for the White Mountain Apache Tribe—critical for the White Mountain Apache Tribe’s access to a safe and reliable water supply.
Sinema partnered with Republican Senator Mitt Romney to reintroduce bipartisan legislation investing $1.3 billion in strengthening the Sanitation Facilities Construction Program to support water and sanitation projects for tribal communities.
Water is Life in Prescott
Stunning natural beauty. Authentic Western hospitality. Unbeatable quality of life. There are countless reasons we are proud to call Prescott home.
I believe that shared pride helped create the sound public policy and personal conservation efforts that will protect this spectacular place – and its critical natural resources – for years to come.
About a year ago, the city manager and I began a review of the city’s water portfolio in its totality. With a large infrastructure project on the horizon and an ongoing drought dominating state news, we wanted the latest data to serve as the foundation for important policy discussions.
We hired one of Arizona’s foremost water experts, Gary Woodard, to study our water demand, and his preliminary findings were presented to City Council in February.
The bottom line is this: Prescott’s long-term water portfolio is in very good shape.
Yes, I know this is hard to believe given the steady stream of negative news coming out of Phoenix, so let me elaborate.
There are three very specific reasons Prescott’s water supply is on solid footing.
The first reason is you. Despite the city’s growth of roughly 2 percent per year, residents and businesses are using less water today than they were more than a decade ago. In fact, since 2004, we’ve added 4,000 new water users but we’re using 1,300 fewer acre-feet of water. Households are smaller and include fewer children and teens who use more water than adults. Appliances are more efficient – low-flow toilets and efficient dishwashers and washing machines are now the norm. And, landscaping is more environmentally friendly. These small changes make a big difference in the amount of water being used.
Second, the city’s reclamation and recharge efforts are working. In fact, almost 80 percent of Prescott homes and businesses are on the city’s sewer system. The city’s wastewater is treated, recharged, and returned to the aquifer.
Third, in the past two decades, the City Council and staff prioritized critical infrastructure maintenance. Our water lines are constantly monitored, maintained and improved, and the results are clear. Beneath our historic buildings lay some equally old infrastructure. However, through aggressive monitoring and maintenance, Prescott has less than a 6 percent loss rate (when water escapes from a leak or broken pipe), well under what is allowed by the State of Arizona.
If you’re still reading, you’re probably wondering what the catch is. Perhaps you’re trying to figure out what I’m really trying to say.
So, here’s the punchline: THANK YOU.
Thank you for helping to ensure Prescott is on the right track. Thank you for supporting managed and responsible growth. Thank you for conserving water in your homes and businesses. Thank you for electing leaders who take seriously their responsibility to protect fiscal and natural resources. Thank you for sharing pride in this great city, and helping to preserve it.
I look forward to the final water study, which will be presented to council in the coming weeks. From there, we will continue to study ways to take what’s working and expand on those programs and policies.
After all, the Native American adage stands true – water is life. And Prescott is a perfect place to enjoy life. QCBN
By Greg Mengarelli
Greg L. Mengarelli is the mayor of the City of Prescott.
Program Encouraging Water Efficient Fixtures
Prescott Mayor Greg Mengarelli is fond of citing the quote famously attributed to Mark Twain: “Whiskey’s for drinking; water’s for fighting over.”
In fact, he uses that phrase to highlight planning for the future and the amount of water it will take to sustain reasonable growth without jeopardizing future generations.
Mengarelli also emphasizes that water conservation is in the best interest of the greater community. He surprised people when he pointed out that even with population growth, the City of Prescott returned more water to the aquifer in 2017 than it used.
“In 2017, The City of Prescott used 6,770 acre feet of water. We returned to the aquifer 7,005 acre feet from our lakes and effluent treatment plant,” he said. “In addition, since 2014, our water usage has decreased about 2 percent on average annually.”
However, Mengarelli stresses that conservation is critical to sustain the future. The City of Prescott is urging water users to take advantage of the city’s water conservation rebate program. Qualified residents and businesses can qualify for up to $2,500 in rebates if they replace inefficient plumbing fixtures, and eliminate or reduce high water use landscaping.
Ten Conservation Items That Qualify for Rebates:
Drip Irrigation Systems. Such systems must include an automatic timer, approved backflow device and drip irrigation installation ($75 rebate).
Landscape Health Check: A certified landscape auditor must complete a thorough landscape audit. A paid invoice must be submitted ($75 rebate).
Rainwater Harvesting: A minimum of a 100-gallon capacity rainwater catchment tank or certified cistern must be installed ($0.50 per gallon, up to a $500 maximum rebate).
Turf Removal: Requires conversion from irrigated turf grass to water-saving landscaping. A minimum of 200 square feet of residential turf or 1,000 square feet of non-residential turf removal is required ($0.25 per square foot up to $400 maximum for residential, and $800 for non-residential/commercial).
High efficiency toilets. Replacement toilets must use 1.6 gallons or less per flush ($50 rebate).
Commercial urinals. Replacement units must use 1.0 gallons or less per flush ($50 rebate).
Sprinkler Spray Head Replacement. A minimum of 12 units must be replaced ($2 per head, up to $40 maximum rebate).
Leak Repairs. This is a one-time benefit per property for eliminating leaks ($5 per leak, with a $25 maximum rebate).
Showerhead Replacement. Showerheads should not exceed 2.4 gallons per minute ($10 rebate).
Other water smart devices include low-flow, low tech devices ($10 rebate).
According to Leah Hubbard, City of Prescott water resource coordinator, Water Rebate Applications can be completed electronically at waterrebate.com or by picking up application forms and other materials at the Water Resource Management Office, 201 S. Cortex, in Prescott.
Hubbard and her staff also are continuing a series of “Water Smart: Drop by Drop,” interactive education programs about water conservation and water supplies. The next program, “State of Arizona Water Management,” is scheduled at noon, March 20, at the Founders Suite, Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin Street.
Presentations are scheduled for noon on the third Wednesday of each month.
Hubbard commented that practicing a low water-use lifestyle is a way everyone can ensure a long-term sufficient water supply. She says efficient water use will help meet current and future needs, and result in financial savings, decreased energy use and better preservation of the environment. QCBN
By Ray Newton, QCBN
For more information about the WaterSmart Program, visit prescottwater.com or call 928-777-1645.
Water May Not Be Everything; Some Say it is the Only Thing
Vickie Johnston, owner of Ultra Water Bar Health Store, remembers when she saw the first bottled water for sale. She thought, who in their right mind is going to buy bottled water when they can go to their tap and get all the water they want for free? When corporate companies saw the signs, they jumped onto this money-making concept of water in plastic bottles.
“The general public thinks bottled water is going to be safer and cleaner than tap water,” says Mae Wu, of the National Resources Defense Council. “For the most part, that’s not true.” A 2008 Environmental Working Group study found that there were 38 contaminants in 10 popular brands of bottled water. Each brand tested contained an average of eight chemicals, including: nitrate, industrial chemicals, arsenic and bacteria. Johnston has researched water for about 25 years and has studied the effects it has on our health. Her research revealed the reality that there are naturally occurring healing or curative springs around the world, which have very powerful and unique health producing properties. They are contaminant-free, alkaline, energized (ionized) and because they contain elevated levels of molecular hydrogen (or H2), they offer strong antioxidant properties. They are very different than tap or bottled water. More than 700 peer reviewed scientific articles document the therapeutic benefits of H2 in over 150 disease models and health conditions, positively impacting every organ in the human body. Seems the native cultures who are fortunate enough to regularly drink these type of healing water are lucky or smart. Or both.
Johnston states, “Drinking clean water is one of the most important things you can do for your health. It is your body’s best defense against disease and illness.”
As Johnston noted 25 years ago, clean water is harder and harder to come by. Commercial and household cleaners, chemicals from manufacturing, pesticides used on crops, medications, drugs and sewage that is not being recycled, has made “alternative” water very popular.
More than 60,000 chemicals are used within the United States. Over 2,100 chemicals have been documented to be found in tap water. Many of them cause serious health issues. The EPA’s Safe Water Drinking Act regulates only 91 of them. And, your local water provider isn’t likely protecting you from the contaminants it faces. The New York Times reported in 2009 that 40 percent of the nation’s community water systems regularly violate the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Act. The Natural Resources Defense Council, in 2000, estimated that 56 million Americans in 25 states drink water with unsafe levels of arsenic. Arsenic is toxic and extremely difficult to remove from water.
Carbon filters reduce some organic compounds, according to an exhaustive North Carolina State University study, but they do not filter out the majority of contaminants including heavy metals, industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals and others. Other more sophisticated filters offer narrowly specific benefits, but each of these also come with potential downsides. All these options offer limited contaminant reduction performance. What is the answer?
The UltraWater alkaline water ionization technology is capable of recreating all four properties of the world’s healthiest water. Contaminant free. Energized. Alkaline. Antioxidant. Imagine the potential positive impact on your health if you were able to recreate those four properties of the world’s greatest waters, in the water that comes right out of your tap.
The Ultra Water Bar Health Store in Prescott Valley provides water produced by Ultra Water ionizers. It is 99.9 percent contaminant free and offers the unique healthy properties. They also offer health education and other essential products. You won’t believe the difference it makes once you incorporate it into your daily routine. The Ultra Water Bar Health Store also teaches classes on how the human body works. They explain why people become sick and what it takes to get your health back. Visit them at 8172 Highway 69 Prescott Valley 86317 or call our General Manager, Cecelia Jernegan at 928-458-4729 for more information. Let us help you “Take back your tap!” QCBN
By Donna Werking
Article provided by Vickie Johnston, Owner of Ultra Water Bar Health Store.
Documentary, Panel Discussion to Feature Water, Quad Cities’ Future
The documentary film “GROUNDWATER To enact a law for the common good…” makes its Northern Arizona debut at the historic Elks Theater, 117 E. Gurley Street, in downtown Prescott at 7 p.m., on Wednesday, May 17. Following the film, a diverse panel of water experts and the filmmakers will take audience questions and engage them in a creative, solutions-oriented conversation on local and regional water issues.
The 26-minute documentary, told with humor and through moving interviews, was produced, directed and written by acclaimed filmmaker Michael Schiffer (of “Colors”, “Lean on Me”,and “Crimson Tide” fame). It tells the true and inspiring story of the contentious battle among farms, cities, and mines in the late 1970s, which led, against all odds, to the passage of the celebrated 1980 Groundwater Management Act (GMA) – Arizona’s most significant step in safeguarding its water resources.
Kathleen Ferris, Senior Research Fellow at the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University, who also produced the film, will moderate the post-screening audience discussion. Ferris was involved in the GMA’s negotiations, supervised its drafting, and is featured in the film. She previously served as executive director of the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association and director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
Quad-Cities community members are invited to bring questions to the event, such as: How can the Quad Cities and surrounding communities reach water supply security? What could happen to monthly water bills in the future? How can Arizona and local communities protect water for the environment, such as the Verde River? What measures should the state legislature be considering to update the GMA? These issues impact quality of life, as well as the health of local economies.
Distinguished panelists include:
• Tom Buschatzke, Director, Arizona Department of Water Resources
• Greg Kornrumph, Manager-Water Rights, Salt River Project (SRP)
• Sarah Porter, Director, Kyl Center for Water Policy
• Thomas Thurman, Chairman, Yavapai County Board of Supervisors
• Doug Von Gausig, Director, Verde River Institute and Mayor, Town of Clarkdale
Managing Reservoirs for Water Supply, Recreation
Water is always an important subject in Arizona, and there is an old saying here in the West: “Whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting.” As mayor, I receive many comments and emails from constituents asking the water levels in the Willow Lake and Watson Lake reservoirs not be lowered, but left “as they are.” Present water levels are at a six-year high, making these community assets particularly scenic. The sentiments expressed in emails and verbal comments are understandable. With those in mind, I thought that it would be opportune to review for readers the various factors and complexities in determining water levels throughout each year.
The dams that created Watson and Willow Lakes were constructed in the early 1900s, at elevations favorable to create a gravity-flow irrigation system for agriculture and ranching in Chino Valley. The water in these reservoirs was routinely drawn down to the levels of their outlet pipes to provide the supply needed by agricultural lands in the Chino Valley Irrigation District (CVID). In 1998, the City of Prescott purchased the reservoirs for two principal reasons: as a source for our municipal water supply, and recreation. Prescott entered into an agreement with CVID and its shareholders (the property owners within the District) in order to utilize surface water flowing into the reservoirs. The agreement held that the surface water was to be used for recharging the local aquifer, and subsequent recovery to serve our utility customers. It is important to note that the CVID Agreement, and the manner in which Prescott uses the water, is subject to Arizona water law, water rights held by other parties, and ongoing obligations to CVID and its property owners. This agreement includes an annual “recharge window” from April 1 through Nov. 30, during which water may be sent from the reservoirs to the city’s recharge facility near the airport. The reservoir water levels are reduced to minimum “conservation pools” (depths below the spillway of each water body, but well above the outlet pipes), enabling continued recreational uses, while providing capacity for subsequent refilling from monsoonal and winter moisture. Within the recharge window, outflow is stopped for fish spawning and other natural events.
The voter-approved 2015 Prescott General Plan, available on the city website (prescott-az.gov), contemplates further growth of our community, and provides information on the water resources necessary to facilitate it. Unless prior groundwater rights exist for a parcel of land, the only source of water that is presently physically available for new subdivisions is recharge/recovery. And an average annual quantity has been pledged for that purpose, hence its importance.
As will be evident, the reservoir levels reflect not only the annual recharging, but weather conditions (precipitation and evaporation) and their uncertainties. These make reservoir operations highly challenging. However, I believe the city has worked, with success, to maintain the balance between water supply requirements and recreation. Since acquisition, reservoir levels have not been reduced below the conservation pools.
The City’s Water Resource Manager is scheduled to present the Annual Water Report to the City Council at our 1 p.m. Study Session on Tuesday, March 28, which will provide more information on several topics, including operation of the reservoirs. That presentation can also be viewed remotely by accessing the city website, and clicking on the “City Meetings” homepage link.
Our lakes, and the water they provide, are a resource that affects all citizens of Prescott. I hope this sheds some light on the purpose of the lakes, and the city’s ongoing management efforts. QCBN
By Harry Oberg
Harry Oberg is the mayor of the City of Prescott.
Understanding Water Resources is Important to those Relocating to the Quad Cities
Welcome to “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” This month we’re discussing water issues in the Quad Cities area.
Sandy: Tom, what is one of the first questions folks ask you who are interested in relocating and building a home in Prescott?
Tom: The number one question is, “What is the water situation in the Prescott area?”
Sandy: I am sure the answer to that would be what is the area that someone is interested in living? Water has such a long history in our area, it would be important for newcomers to get some background and history to understand water supplies in the area.
Tom: In 1980, the state adopted the Groundwater Management Act (“the Act”), creating the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) to secure long-term dependable water supplies for Arizona’s communities. Further, to secure dependable supplies, Active Management Areas (AMA) were identified in the state where there were existing or quickly growing populations. Our area is known as the Prescott AMA and includes: Prescott, Prescott Valley Chino Valley, Dewey-Humboldt and many other lands known as unincorporated Yavapai County.
Sandy: Wow, so where does someone start when they are looking to relocate?
Tom: The family should determine which community in the AMA they are planning to live and then have more discussion with the water provider, which could be a municipality or a private water company. If they are purchasing property that is using a private well, then they should contact the ADWR for assistance. The ADWR is responsible for the permitting for all well drilling and the associated documentation.
Sandy: Tom, what are some points of interest about the water supplies in the area?
Tom: Based on the ADWR website, this area consists of two groundwater sub-basins, the Little Chino and the Upper Agua Fria. Depending on where you wish to locate, your water supplies will be associated with one of the two, as the area is predominately served by groundwater supplies. These groundwater supplies are a result of millions of years of water infiltrating into the groundwater system as a result of weather (precipitation- rain and snow)! The ADWR website estimates there are three million acre-feet of groundwater in storage.
Sandy: What is an “acre-foot”?
Tom: Well, people generally describe it as a football field that has one foot of water covering the surface. If you think of it in gallons, that is, one acre-foot of water is equal to 325,851 gallons. Milk comes in those plastic, one-gallon jugs, right? Can you imagine 325,851 milk jugs? Anyway, so then imagine three million times 325,851 gallons…that a huge number!
However, with that large number, it is also important to know that the Prescott AMA’s annual water use is estimated at 20,000 AF/year. This is only an estimate, because private well users are just that – private and exempt – and private well water usage is not monitored by the state. All wells are required to be registered with the state.
Sandy: So, how long can the area keep using groundwater supplies?
Tom: Well, this is where the next piece of history comes in. In late 1998, the area was declared out of
safe-yield. Per ADWR, this means that more groundwater was being withdrawn than replaced. This declaration enacted laws designed to protect the groundwater supplies. The 1998 declaration halted the use of more groundwater supplies for residential and commercial subdivision development (see Arizona Department of Real Estate definition of a subdivision).
Sandy: Based on home permits issued for our region, the area keeps growing. Are there other water supplies?
Tom: Yes, like other communities in Arizona, the state laws require that communities use renewable supplies, like surface water and reclaimed water. No provider in this area delivers these supplies directly, but they follow the state laws for recharging the waters into the ground and then recovering (pumping) them in another location.
Sandy: Hmmm, can you give me an example of this recharge and recovery?
Tom: Well, I don’t know all the details, but for example, the City of Prescott acquired the surface water rights to Watson and Willow Lake Reservoirs in 1998. This surface water is delivered by pipeline to a recharge facility (holding basins that allow the water to percolate into the groundwater system) near the airport. The water is then recovered by pumping wells at their wellfield in accordance with state laws. Similarly, reclaimed water from the community’s wastewater treatment plant is also recycled for use.
Sandy: There is obviously a lot of management of water supplies in the Prescott AMA and we’re likely just scratching the surface!
Tom: Well, yes, but let’s get back to your original question. For those seeking to relocate to the area, they should have some basic awareness that the state has taken measures to address the populations that they knew could develop in this Southwestern state. For more information on water supplies provided by a municipality or private water company, they should contact that provider. If they will be using a private well, then they can contact ADWR for any well records that the previous owner or representation agent may or may not have. Further, with private wells, local well drilling firms also can be a resource for additional information related to wells in the person’s area of interest, especially if the property is located in unincorporated Yavapai County.
Sandy: Water is an extremely important resource and you have educated our readers, Tom, with lots of facts. With groundwater pumping depleting river flows, conservation measures are extremely important to ensuring our water security for both people and nature.
Tom: I agree. Water conservation is important. The City of Prescott on its website has dedicated information to assist homeowners and the community with water conservation.
Sandy: April is Water Awareness Month and I say that every day is a good day to be water aware.
Tom: Water is a serious subject in Arizona. The availability and quality of our water supply is critical to our quality of life and our state’s status as a world-class destination. Efficient water use makes good business sense and there are many opportunities for homeowners to make simple changes to daily habits that will save significant quantities of water.
Sandy: It is worth noting that many of our cities and towns as a whole are relatively efficient with their water use, as are our homeowners by making considerable reductions in their water demands, which result in lower water bills. We should all use this good work as motivation to increase our water conservation performance even further.
Practicing a low water-use lifestyle is a way each individual and business in Arizona can help ensure a long-term, sufficient water supply. You can make a difference in our future by making small changes, starting today. QCBN
Searching for Water
In his recent State of the City comments, Prescott Mayor Harry Oberg was forthright in thoughts about water.
“Prescott requires water resources sufficient to support reasonable growth,” he said.
He continued, saying moderate growth levels are necessary to prevent economic stagnation, and that the juncture of water and growth perhaps present a dilemma for Prescott, because the community is landlocked.
He essentially repeated one of his campaign pledges: to continue investigating the feasibility of importing water from the Big Chino Aquifer.
He has discussed such a project with some members of the Arizona Congressional delegation and the possibility of a public-private partnership is being explored.
“I believe the estimate of a $250 million cost to build the pipeline from the aquifer to Prescott is extreme. I am confident that cost can be reduced substantially.”
Council member Jim Lamerson (who serves as mayor pro tem) agreed. “We must act in the best interest of the city and its residents to assure a stable water supply.”
Lamerson, who chairs the Council’s Water Issues Committee, recently noted that the city’s three-month suspension of requests for alternative water is under consideration again. The intent is to give city officials sufficient time to review water service agreements.
Lamerson was emphatic that the city was not running out of water.
Prominent Contractor Provides Recommendations
Fann Contracting President Mike Fann, the developer for Granite Dells Estsate properties, wrote comments about his thoughts for protecting water resources.
Fann acknowledges that concern about water resources and the sufficiency of the water supply presents challenges. Years ago, he discussed the possibility of the Arizona Department of Water Resources forming the Prescott Active Management Area (AMA), which was intended to ensure discontinuance of overdraft of the aquifer and the reaching of safe yield.
Fann, whose family has been in business in the Prescott area since the 1960s, insists that he wants to protect the environmental and ecological integrity of Central Arizona.
Fann also is a member of the Central Arizona Partnership, an organization that tries to research and educate its membership and the public to support practices and policies in the best interest of communities.
Fann suggests that water consumption outside the Prescott AMA occurs largely because of private wells on private property, and they are not subject to the same levels of control and regulations those within the AMA.
Fann indicated one means by which uncontrolled regulation of water can occur is through annexation by municipalities. They can then regulate growth, housing density and other factors that impact water usage. His statement praised Council members for their ongoing efforts to solve the issues.
Fann also endorsed the plan to build a pipeline to import water from the Big Chino Aquifer located just northwest of Paulden.
Big Chino Aquifer Under Consideration for Years
More than 10 years have passed since planning began to import water from the Big Chino Basin to the communities of Prescott and Prescott Valley. In that time, meetings, studies and negotiations have occurred among officials from Prescott, Prescott Valley and the Salt River Project (SRP). Founded in 1903, the Tempe-based public utility is one of the largest in Arizona and has two primary purposes: support for agricultural improvement activities and generation of electric power.
SRP has four dams on the Salt River and four more on the Verde River with rights to most the groundwater throughout Central and Northern Arizona.
Negotiations about tapping into the huge aquifer have often focused upon what would occur to the flow of the Verde River, which has its headwaters near the same area as the Big Chino Water Ranch project.
Heated discussions have ranged from “Pumping water will reduce the flow of the Verde River” to “Taking water from the Big Chino will have no impact on the Verde.”
Currently, the three entities are collaborating on groundwater monitoring and scientific modeling studies. The intent is to ascertain if the thousands of acre feet of groundwater piped to the Quad Cities area would lower the aquifer and the adjacent Verde River.
Water Concerns Extend Far Beyond Yavapai County
In recent months, a myriad of groups have convened to develop plans and strategies to assure a safe, reliable water supply in Arizona.
Arizona Town Hall sponsored its 107th Town Hall program, Nov. 15-18, in Mesa.
Almost 250 community, civic and governmental leaders heard experts from not just Arizona but also several other states discuss “Keeping Arizona’s Water Glass Full.”
Several participants were from the Quad Cities and greater Yavapai area.
As Tara Jackson, president of Arizona Town Hall, noted, “Sustainable water supplies have been a topic at various town halls for the past five decades, but never before has the population in arid Arizona faced such persistent competing demands for water.”
From those presentations and panel discussions came key recommendations, which have been passed along to community, county, state and national governmental agencies and organizations.
Key recommendations:
- Create a long-term strategic plan in collaboration with tribal, local, county, state and federal levels.
- Appropriately fund and staff the Arizona Department of Water Resources, which then can carry out statutory responsibilities for water planning.
- Educate and create public awareness among the public and political leadership about the need for future public-private partnerships; and private sector investments in infrastructure, economic development and land development.
- Promote conservation and augmentation of water supplies so that Arizona will meet the supply-demand challenge over during coming decades.
- Initiate legal reform to ensure more expedient and equitable resolution of water rights issues.
The final report emphasized that while metropolitan Arizona does not face a water crisis, the opposite is true in rural Arizona, including, of course, Yavapai County.
Among other Arizona groups were these:
- Southwest Arizona Futures Forum, which in September brought together about 100
community and student leaders to address the topic, “Water: Protecting our Most Precious Resource.”
- The Morrison Institute for Public Policy at Arizona State University and the Arizona
Republic conducted a symposium Nov. 3 in Tempe. The focus was to hear leading water experts and policy makers discuss what is necessary to sustain future water supplies.
- The AZ Water Association, headquartered in Cave Creek, has 2,200 members who
are water and wastewater professionals. Jan. 14, the group conducted its Annual Research Workshop. QCBN
By Ray Newton, QCBN
Community Outreach Programs in Prescott About Water
Two community outreach programs focusing on water are scheduled in Prescott.
The first is at noon, Wednesday, Feb. 10 at Embr- Riddle Aeronautical University, 3700 Willow Creek Road. The second is scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, March 12, at Las Fuentes Resort Village, 1035 Scott Drive. Both are offered through Arizona Town Hall. For more information, call 602-252-9600 or visit www.aztownhall.org QCBN