Tucson Water Leads the Way in Innovative Water Stewardship
Arizona Project WET Guest Article
On a recent field trip hosted by Tucson Water, Arizona Project WET (APW) had the opportunity to explore some of the most impactful and forward-thinking water initiatives in the Southwest. The day began at the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project, a shining example of how reclaimed water can revitalize ecosystems and reconnect communities to flowing rivers in the desert. With insight from the project manager, we learned how treated recycled water recharges the aquifer while creating vital riparian habitat in the heart of Tucson.
Next, we visited the Southern Avra Valley Storage and Recovery Project, where we saw firsthand how Tucson stores its Colorado River water underground for later use. This process, known as recharge and recovery, ensures long-term groundwater sustainability while helping balance supply and demand. Tucson Water’s allocation of Colorado River water is delivered via the Central Arizona Project and recharged into the aquifer using basins located in highly permeable soils. Wells near the basins recover the water that Tucsonans use on a daily basis.
Our final stop took us to the Sweetwater Wetlands, an urban oasis that demonstrates the power of natural systems in water treatment, wildlife habitat, and public education.
These projects are part of the City of Tucson and Tucson Water’s “One Water” approach, which treats all water sources such as groundwater, surface water, recycled water, and stormwater as valuable components of the City’s water supply. With decades of conservation leadership and community-driven planning, Tucson continues to be a model for sustainable water management.
One of the most exciting innovations on the horizon is Arizona Pure Water Tucson, a program that uses advanced water purification technologies to transform recycled water into safe, high-quality drinking water. This bold step will expand Tucson’s local, renewable water supplies and build even greater resilience in the face of climate uncertainty.