Councilman Claude Mattox's
Letter to the Editor
Despite drought, Phoenix can meet water demand
The Phoenix Business Journal - Letter to the Editor
I was disappointed to read Mike Sunnuck's Aug. 21 article, "GPEC survey shows misconceptions continue," which cited that a majority of business journalists surveyed think Phoenix has a water availability problem.
Although we are in a drought situation, the city has enough water to deal with future growth and drought conditions for many years. This is because of decades of planning, acquiring water supplies, implementing water conservation programs, building infrastructure, and engineering flexibility into the city's water delivery and treatment facilities.
When it comes to water, the city of Phoenix is in the forefront, nationally and internationally. Phoenix has maintained a long-term water resources plan for more than 20 years. The latest version, approved by the Phoenix City Council in December 2000, addresses supply and demand in the city for a 50-year period, for both drought and nondrought conditions.
As outlined in this plan, Phoenix has enough water to serve demand within the area that receives Salt River Project supplies, even in a drought as severe as the one we are currently experiencing.
Additionally, Phoenix has enough water to serve the remaining parts of the city through 2017. Even in the unlikely worst-case scenario - a simultaneous drought on the Salt, Verde and Colorado rivers - the city can meet its total customer water demands through 2010. In any case, the plan identifies actions the city may take to continue to maintain a sufficient water supply to meet projected growth or reductions in supplies resulting from drought for many years to come.
The city has put innovative water programs in place to manage its water supplies. These include Tres Rios, a wetland that increases the quality of reclaimed water while benefiting the environment by creating river habitat; recharge programs that augment the ground water supply; a reclaimed water exchange with the Roosevelt Irrigation District that trades treated wastewater to farmers for surface water supplies that the city treats and delivers as drinking water; the Granite Reef Underground Storage Project, which increases ground water for future use; McMullen Valley water farm, purchased to provide ground water for future use; and the use of reclaimed water by golf courses and turf facilities like parks.
Enhancing its water supplies and implementing a water conservation plan is not the only way the city is protecting its water future. The city has had a water conservation program in place since 1985 to promote water conservation by all its customers and to provide practical ways to save water.
To better inform all of Phoenix's residents, the business community and the media, Water Services Department staff is available to speak about the city's water supply, the drought, and conservation. For more information or to request a speaker, send an e-mail to conservation@phoenix.gov or go to
http://www.wateruseitwisely or
http://www.phoenix.gov .
The water availability misconception is just that, a misconception. In addition to the city of Phoenix, it is incumbent upon Arizona's economic development community and local media to dispel the misunderstanding of national business journalists.
Claude Mattox Phoenix Vice Mayor representing District 5 Chairman, Phoenix City Council Natural Resources Subcommittee
© 2002 American City Business Journals Inc.
