Tap water is essential for almost every facet of life – from drinking to entertainment to fire protection. There’s almost nothing as reliable or a better value. And, 2007 starts a new year and a new century for Phoenix tap water customers. That’s right; the city of Phoenix’s Water Services Department is celebrating its centennial: 100 Years … A Century of Superior Water Services in Phoenix.
Phoenix purchased its first private water company in 1907. The city immediately began making improvements to the system by digging wells and adding water lines and pumps. Wastewater operations began a few years later.
At one time, surface water from the Verde River was delivered through a 30 mile long redwood pipeline. Since then, Phoenix has opened five water treatment plants, with a sixth coming on-line later this year. Two wastewater treatment plants and a water reclamation plant have followed as have almost 7,000 miles of water lines under the streets of Phoenix and over four million tests and measurements each year to make sure Phoenix tap water meets or exceeds a multitude of water quality and safety regulations. The department now serves 1.5 million tap water customers in Phoenix and two million wastewater customers throughout the Valley. And, the city has ensured a reliable tap water supply by using several sources of surface water, groundwater and reclaimed water.
As Phoenix Water Services enters its second 100 years, enhancements will focus on customer services, ensuring our future water supply, technology, the environment, maintaining aging water and wastewater lines and treatment plants, increased regulatory compliance and security. Public awareness programs asking customers to use water responsibly, cease placing grease down the drain and pay bills on-line will continue, as will efforts to attract talented workers to the industry.
To learn more information about the Phoenix Water Services Department 100-year history, click on a link on the left side of the page, or download the entire document in Adobe Acrobat.1
