West Valley Cities Eyeing Reclaimed Water Amid Drought, Population Growth
David Madrid, The Republic | azcentral.com
November 25, 2014
Drought and population growth are driving some West Valley cities to place a greater importance on reclaimed water — or water from a toilet, shower, dishwasher and the like — as a renewable drinking-water resource.
Although drinking water that was once flushed in a home’s toilet might rank high on the yuck index for some, water experts said it is necessary because there is a finite supply of water on the planet, and there is nothing wrong with the water after it has been treated.
Reclaimed water is sent to wastewater treatment plants where it is cleaned and either used to water golf courses and parks or pumped into the ground, where it is stored until needed.
The water filtering through the ground acts as another layer of treatment. When it’s needed, the water is pulled from wells and is treated yet again before being sent to residential and commercial taps.
How Not To Squander Arizona’s Water Legacy
Jon Kyl and Grady Gammage Jr., AZ We See It
November 8, 2014
Experts: It’s time to focus Arizona on this set of short-, medium- and long-term water solutions.
For generations, water has been the issue in Arizona that transcends partisan politics.
George W.P. Hunt, the “old walrus” of early statehood, was said to “walk on land, but run on water” whenever he faced an electoral challenge. Carl Hayden, John Rhodes, Morris Udall, Bruce Babbitt and Barry Goldwater all understood the fundamental reality of life in the desert: Private citizens and organizations along with the state and federal government must work together to ensure reliable water supplies for the people of Arizona.
The Salt River Project, the Central Arizona Project and the Groundwater Management Act are all examples of Arizonans recognizing critical needs and creating structures to deliver and manage our water supplies. More recently, the Groundwater Replenishment District and the Arizona Water Bank were formed to create more options for water preservation.
New Mexico Plans Diversion System for Gila River
Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press
November 25, 2014
ALBUQUERQUE – New Mexico’s most powerful water planning commission voted Monday to notify the U.S. Interior Department that it wants to take advantage of federal funding to build a diversion and storage system along the Gila River, a project that is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars and take decades to complete.
The Interstate Stream Commission also decided during its meeting in Albuquerque that some of the money should go toward municipal conservation efforts and other projects aimed at stretching the drought-stricken region’s water supplies.
State Engineer Scott Verhines, New Mexico’s top water official and a member of the commission, said the point of regional water planning is to identify and implement strategies to balance supply and demand. He said the options approved by the commission will do that for cities and farms in southwestern New Mexico.