The Verde River as a Water Source

While the canals used for irrigation water were improved after the National Reclamation Act was signed in 1902 – the law that resulted in the creation of Salt River Project and several dams on the Salt River - the water was considered too salty. So, city officials began to seek out a source of surface water for municipal use, one derived from pure melting snow and rainwater.

In 1913, after half-dozen years of city ownership of the water system, the idea of bringing water from the Verde River, which contained far less dissolved minerals, was being given serious consideration. In 1915, a site for the Verde River water intake was identified on the Fort McDowell Indian Reservation. After several years of evaluation, design, and water rights negotiations, in 1920, the construction of the 28-mile Verde pipeline began. In order to build the project for the amount of funds allocated by a bond issue, city officials elected to purchase inexpensive redwood pipe for the line.

A 38-inch diameter redwood pipeline would be built of staves bound with steel straps much like a barrel, and the sections would be placed end-to-end over the long distance to Phoenix. Much of the pipeline would be above ground, but some portions of the line were buried.

The redwood line terminated near 9th Street and Van Buren where the major water pumping infrastructure was located. A city park now sits at that famous location, and it is named for the river from where the water was brought – Verde Park.

Two men stand atop the redwood water line that traveled from the Verde
River to Phoenix (circa 1922).

In February 1922, water from the Verde River began to flow to Phoenix customers. The line had been completed in December the previous year, but a chlorination facility needed to be constructed before the water could be used.

In 1927, the wells were drilled near the Verde River water pipeline intake so additional water could be supplied to the growing city. However, within the next year, the redwood pipeline began to leak and a study was put under way to replace the line with a larger concrete line.

By December 1930, construction began on a new 42-inch concrete waterline from the Verde River, and a 20-million gallon reservoir.

Last modified on 12/19/2007 09:25:33