Water at the Urban Edge

Water at the urban edge Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District The district covers parts of the three counties served by the Central Arizona Project: Maricopa, Pinal and Pima. Map area The Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District was created by the Legislature to help communities and home builders meet water-supply requirements. The most likely candidates for membership in the district were towns and subdivisions on the edge of an urban area, too far from canals and pipelines to use renewable surface-water sources. Phoenix SURFACE WATER Phoenix The supply of surface water varies each year depending on runoff into rivers and streams. Reservoirs can help protect cities and towns from drought, but users who take water directly can experience shortages in dry years. Central Arizona Project canal Colorado River How much water does Arizona use? Urban areas Management In all, Arizona uses about 7.1 million acre-feet of water each year. area Member areas 39.8% ARIZO NA Colorado River MORE THAN HALF IS SURFACE WATER ... Tucson 14.2% Recharge water Arizona has recharged about 880 billion gallons, since 1996. Most of that was surface water from In-state rivers An acre-foot of water is 325,851 gallons, enough to serve two average households for one year. 2.4% the Colorado River. Groundwater wells Arizona requires a permit for all groundwater wells, but for wells that will pump less than 50,000 gallons a day, the state doesn't require well owners to report the actual amount of water used. Treated wastewater HOW THE DISTRICT WORKS An entity, either a town or home builder, determines it cannot meet the 100-year water-supply requirement. ------ The town or builder joins the district. Builders pay a membership fee of $74 per home and a $72 activation fee per home. District Recharge area Once accepted, membership helps demonstrate a 100-year water supply to the state. Lake 100 Reservoir The homes use groundwater. Water usage reports are given to the district. River The district buys renewable surface water to match the usage of groundwater. The water is recharged in aquifers and basins. Recharge Water table area Recharge area The district bills the city or homeowners for the cost of buying and replacing the water on their behalf. 43.6% groundwater What are the risks? Valley aquifers Water occurs in the pores between gravel, sand and clay INo limits to the number of homes that can enroll. I Cost could increase dramatically as demand increases. INo rules about where member areas can pump. A subdivison could deplete aquifers miles away from where the water is being replaced. THE REST IS FROM WELLS. Hydrologists can estimate groundwater storage beneath Arizona, but the amount can fluctuate depending on natural refilling of aquifers and how many wells operate in an area. Water table sediments. Source: Arizona Department of Water Resources, Central Arizona Water Conservation District GROUND WATER SHAUN MCKINNON AND ANDREW LONG/THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC Water at the urban edge Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District The district covers parts of the three counties served by the Central Arizona Project: Maricopa, Pinal and Pima. Map area The Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District was created by the Legislature to help communities and home builders meet water-supply requirements. The most likely candidates for membership in the district were towns and subdivisions on the edge of an urban area, too far from canals and pipelines to use renewable surface-water sources. Phoenix SURFACE WATER Phoenix The supply of surface water varies each year depending on runoff into rivers and streams. Reservoirs can help protect cities and towns from drought, but users who take water directly can experience shortages in dry years. Central Arizona Project canal Colorado River How much water does Arizona use? Urban areas Management In all, Arizona uses about 7.1 million acre-feet of water each year. area Member areas 39.8% ARIZO NA Colorado River MORE THAN HALF IS SURFACE WATER ... Tucson 14.2% Recharge water Arizona has recharged about 880 billion gallons, since 1996. Most of that was surface water from In-state rivers An acre-foot of water is 325,851 gallons, enough to serve two average households for one year. 2.4% the Colorado River. Groundwater wells Arizona requires a permit for all groundwater wells, but for wells that will pump less than 50,000 gallons a day, the state doesn't require well owners to report the actual amount of water used. Treated wastewater HOW THE DISTRICT WORKS An entity, either a town or home builder, determines it cannot meet the 100-year water-supply requirement. ------ The town or builder joins the district. Builders pay a membership fee of $74 per home and a $72 activation fee per home. District Recharge area Once accepted, membership helps demonstrate a 100-year water supply to the state. Lake 100 Reservoir The homes use groundwater. Water usage reports are given to the district. River The district buys renewable surface water to match the usage of groundwater. The water is recharged in aquifers and basins. Recharge Water table area Recharge area The district bills the city or homeowners for the cost of buying and replacing the water on their behalf. 43.6% groundwater What are the risks? Valley aquifers Water occurs in the pores between gravel, sand and clay INo limits to the number of homes that can enroll. I Cost could increase dramatically as demand increases. INo rules about where member areas can pump. A subdivison could deplete aquifers miles away from where the water is being replaced. THE REST IS FROM WELLS. Hydrologists can estimate groundwater storage beneath Arizona, but the amount can fluctuate depending on natural refilling of aquifers and how many wells operate in an area. Water table sediments. Source: Arizona Department of Water Resources, Central Arizona Water Conservation District GROUND WATER SHAUN MCKINNON AND ANDREW LONG/THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC Water at the urban edge Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District The district covers parts of the three counties served by the Central Arizona Project: Maricopa, Pinal and Pima. Map area The Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District was created by the Legislature to help communities and home builders meet water-supply requirements. The most likely candidates for membership in the district were towns and subdivisions on the edge of an urban area, too far from canals and pipelines to use renewable surface-water sources. Phoenix SURFACE WATER Phoenix The supply of surface water varies each year depending on runoff into rivers and streams. Reservoirs can help protect cities and towns from drought, but users who take water directly can experience shortages in dry years. Central Arizona Project canal Colorado River How much water does Arizona use? Urban areas Management In all, Arizona uses about 7.1 million acre-feet of water each year. area Member areas 39.8% ARIZO NA Colorado River MORE THAN HALF IS SURFACE WATER ... Tucson 14.2% Recharge water Arizona has recharged about 880 billion gallons, since 1996. Most of that was surface water from In-state rivers An acre-foot of water is 325,851 gallons, enough to serve two average households for one year. 2.4% the Colorado River. Groundwater wells Arizona requires a permit for all groundwater wells, but for wells that will pump less than 50,000 gallons a day, the state doesn't require well owners to report the actual amount of water used. Treated wastewater HOW THE DISTRICT WORKS An entity, either a town or home builder, determines it cannot meet the 100-year water-supply requirement. ------ The town or builder joins the district. Builders pay a membership fee of $74 per home and a $72 activation fee per home. District Recharge area Once accepted, membership helps demonstrate a 100-year water supply to the state. Lake 100 Reservoir The homes use groundwater. Water usage reports are given to the district. River The district buys renewable surface water to match the usage of groundwater. The water is recharged in aquifers and basins. Recharge Water table area Recharge area The district bills the city or homeowners for the cost of buying and replacing the water on their behalf. 43.6% groundwater What are the risks? Valley aquifers Water occurs in the pores between gravel, sand and clay INo limits to the number of homes that can enroll. I Cost could increase dramatically as demand increases. INo rules about where member areas can pump. A subdivison could deplete aquifers miles away from where the water is being replaced. THE REST IS FROM WELLS. Hydrologists can estimate groundwater storage beneath Arizona, but the amount can fluctuate depending on natural refilling of aquifers and how many wells operate in an area. Water table sediments. Source: Arizona Department of Water Resources, Central Arizona Water Conservation District GROUND WATER SHAUN MCKINNON AND ANDREW LONG/THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC Water at the urban edge Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District The district covers parts of the three counties served by the Central Arizona Project: Maricopa, Pinal and Pima. Map area The Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District was created by the Legislature to help communities and home builders meet water-supply requirements. The most likely candidates for membership in the district were towns and subdivisions on the edge of an urban area, too far from canals and pipelines to use renewable surface-water sources. Phoenix SURFACE WATER Phoenix The supply of surface water varies each year depending on runoff into rivers and streams. Reservoirs can help protect cities and towns from drought, but users who take water directly can experience shortages in dry years. Central Arizona Project canal Colorado River How much water does Arizona use? Urban areas Management In all, Arizona uses about 7.1 million acre-feet of water each year. area Member areas 39.8% ARIZO NA Colorado River MORE THAN HALF IS SURFACE WATER ... Tucson 14.2% Recharge water Arizona has recharged about 880 billion gallons, since 1996. Most of that was surface water from In-state rivers An acre-foot of water is 325,851 gallons, enough to serve two average households for one year. 2.4% the Colorado River. Groundwater wells Arizona requires a permit for all groundwater wells, but for wells that will pump less than 50,000 gallons a day, the state doesn't require well owners to report the actual amount of water used. Treated wastewater HOW THE DISTRICT WORKS An entity, either a town or home builder, determines it cannot meet the 100-year water-supply requirement. ------ The town or builder joins the district. Builders pay a membership fee of $74 per home and a $72 activation fee per home. District Recharge area Once accepted, membership helps demonstrate a 100-year water supply to the state. Lake 100 Reservoir The homes use groundwater. Water usage reports are given to the district. River The district buys renewable surface water to match the usage of groundwater. The water is recharged in aquifers and basins. Recharge Water table area Recharge area The district bills the city or homeowners for the cost of buying and replacing the water on their behalf. 43.6% groundwater What are the risks? Valley aquifers Water occurs in the pores between gravel, sand and clay INo limits to the number of homes that can enroll. I Cost could increase dramatically as demand increases. INo rules about where member areas can pump. A subdivison could deplete aquifers miles away from where the water is being replaced. THE REST IS FROM WELLS. Hydrologists can estimate groundwater storage beneath Arizona, but the amount can fluctuate depending on natural refilling of aquifers and how many wells operate in an area. Water table sediments. Source: Arizona Department of Water Resources, Central Arizona Water Conservation District GROUND WATER SHAUN MCKINNON AND ANDREW LONG/THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC Water at the urban edge Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District The district covers parts of the three counties served by the Central Arizona Project: Maricopa, Pinal and Pima. Map area The Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District was created by the Legislature to help communities and home builders meet water-supply requirements. The most likely candidates for membership in the district were towns and subdivisions on the edge of an urban area, too far from canals and pipelines to use renewable surface-water sources. Phoenix SURFACE WATER Phoenix The supply of surface water varies each year depending on runoff into rivers and streams. Reservoirs can help protect cities and towns from drought, but users who take water directly can experience shortages in dry years. Central Arizona Project canal Colorado River How much water does Arizona use? Urban areas Management In all, Arizona uses about 7.1 million acre-feet of water each year. area Member areas 39.8% ARIZO NA Colorado River MORE THAN HALF IS SURFACE WATER ... Tucson 14.2% Recharge water Arizona has recharged about 880 billion gallons, since 1996. Most of that was surface water from In-state rivers An acre-foot of water is 325,851 gallons, enough to serve two average households for one year. 2.4% the Colorado River. Groundwater wells Arizona requires a permit for all groundwater wells, but for wells that will pump less than 50,000 gallons a day, the state doesn't require well owners to report the actual amount of water used. Treated wastewater HOW THE DISTRICT WORKS An entity, either a town or home builder, determines it cannot meet the 100-year water-supply requirement. ------ The town or builder joins the district. Builders pay a membership fee of $74 per home and a $72 activation fee per home. District Recharge area Once accepted, membership helps demonstrate a 100-year water supply to the state. Lake 100 Reservoir The homes use groundwater. Water usage reports are given to the district. River The district buys renewable surface water to match the usage of groundwater. The water is recharged in aquifers and basins. Recharge Water table area Recharge area The district bills the city or homeowners for the cost of buying and replacing the water on their behalf. 43.6% groundwater What are the risks? Valley aquifers Water occurs in the pores between gravel, sand and clay INo limits to the number of homes that can enroll. I Cost could increase dramatically as demand increases. INo rules about where member areas can pump. A subdivison could deplete aquifers miles away from where the water is being replaced. THE REST IS FROM WELLS. Hydrologists can estimate groundwater storage beneath Arizona, but the amount can fluctuate depending on natural refilling of aquifers and how many wells operate in an area. Water table sediments. Source: Arizona Department of Water Resources, Central Arizona Water Conservation District GROUND WATER SHAUN MCKINNON AND ANDREW LONG/THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC Water at the urban edge Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District The district covers parts of the three counties served by the Central Arizona Project: Maricopa, Pinal and Pima. Map area The Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District was created by the Legislature to help communities and home builders meet water-supply requirements. The most likely candidates for membership in the district were towns and subdivisions on the edge of an urban area, too far from canals and pipelines to use renewable surface-water sources. Phoenix SURFACE WATER Phoenix The supply of surface water varies each year depending on runoff into rivers and streams. Reservoirs can help protect cities and towns from drought, but users who take water directly can experience shortages in dry years. Central Arizona Project canal Colorado River How much water does Arizona use? Urban areas Management In all, Arizona uses about 7.1 million acre-feet of water each year. area Member areas 39.8% ARIZO NA Colorado River MORE THAN HALF IS SURFACE WATER ... Tucson 14.2% Recharge water Arizona has recharged about 880 billion gallons, since 1996. Most of that was surface water from In-state rivers An acre-foot of water is 325,851 gallons, enough to serve two average households for one year. 2.4% the Colorado River. Groundwater wells Arizona requires a permit for all groundwater wells, but for wells that will pump less than 50,000 gallons a day, the state doesn't require well owners to report the actual amount of water used. Treated wastewater HOW THE DISTRICT WORKS An entity, either a town or home builder, determines it cannot meet the 100-year water-supply requirement. ------ The town or builder joins the district. Builders pay a membership fee of $74 per home and a $72 activation fee per home. District Recharge area Once accepted, membership helps demonstrate a 100-year water supply to the state. Lake 100 Reservoir The homes use groundwater. Water usage reports are given to the district. River The district buys renewable surface water to match the usage of groundwater. The water is recharged in aquifers and basins. Recharge Water table area Recharge area The district bills the city or homeowners for the cost of buying and replacing the water on their behalf. 43.6% groundwater What are the risks? Valley aquifers Water occurs in the pores between gravel, sand and clay INo limits to the number of homes that can enroll. I Cost could increase dramatically as demand increases. INo rules about where member areas can pump. A subdivison could deplete aquifers miles away from where the water is being replaced. THE REST IS FROM WELLS. Hydrologists can estimate groundwater storage beneath Arizona, but the amount can fluctuate depending on natural refilling of aquifers and how many wells operate in an area. Water table sediments. Source: Arizona Department of Water Resources, Central Arizona Water Conservation District GROUND WATER SHAUN MCKINNON AND ANDREW LONG/THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC