The metropolitan area of Eastern Pima County Arizona is developing and implementing a Regional Optimization Master Plan (ROMP) as a $720 million program to modernize and upgrade the two major RWRD metropolitan treatment facilities. These modernizations will improve the water quality for recharge and reuse, develop a state of the art water quality laboratory, incorporate solar and rainwater harvesting features, and will help to develop habitat and birding features. The Pima County/Tucson team will present the ongoing collaboration with the water research scientists at the University of Arizona, Pima Association of Governments, Tucson Audubon Society and other community organizations to proudly transform these RWRD treatment facilities into a water-centric focus area for the region, capitalizing on the natural beauty of the Santa Cruz River and the award winning area of the Tucson Sweetwater Wetlands.
1. Spotlight: Tucson/Pima County, Arizona
Alan Forrest, P.E., Tucson Water Director; Jackson Jenkins, Director – RWRD; Ed Curley,
Senior Program Manager – RWRD; Dr. Jeff Prevatt, Regulatory Compliance Manager –
RWRD; Dr. Paul Green, Executive Director – Tucson Audubon Society; Claire Zucker,
Sustainable Environment Program Director – PAG
October 16, 2012
1
2. Spotlight: Tucson/Pima County, Arizona
Team Members
- Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department
- Tucson Water Department
- Tucson Audubon Society
- Pima Association of Governments
- University of Arizona
Regional Wastewater
Reclamation
Department
2
3. Spotlight: Tucson/Pima County, Arizona
Topics
- Introduction to the Arid West
- ROMP – Water Quality and the Environment
- Arid Lands / Water Resources – A Balancing Act
- Birds, Business, and Reclaimed Water
- Science and Technology
- Creating a New Water Resource
3
4. Introduction to the Arid West and Pima County
Ed Curley, Senior Program Manager – RWRD
4
6. The Arid West – Defined by Rainfall
Arid West
ecosystems are www.tucsonforbeginners.com
unique in the
United States
Average Annual
Precipitation
0 – 10”
10 – 20”
>20”
6
7. Critical Issues in the Arid West
Water Quantity
Water Quality
Water Reliability
Stormwater
7
8. Arid West Water Quantity / Allocation
All surface water in the Arid West is fully
allocated to federal, state, tribal, municipal
or private (farms and ranches) interests.
Groundwater levels are declining across
the West.
As a result, effluent has become very
valuable as a water source, and the control
and utilization of effluent are critical issues!
Colorado River water rights
NRCS Photo
Existing groundwater rights
8
9. Arid West Water Quality
Human Health Aquatic Environment
Emerging Contaminant Concerns
9
10. Arid West Water Reliability
Drought
Lake Mead, 2010
Lake Mead, 1985
Satellite images
Photo by Craig Moran, LV Review Journal
10
11. Arid West Stormwater Quality/Quantity
Erosion hazards / Debris flows and sediment
sediment transport
Wildfires
that alter Inadequate
watershed stormwater
conditions facilities in
urban core
11
12. Who We Are
Population:
1,000,000 in Pima County
742,000 in City of Tucson
9,200 square miles
Annual rainfall: 12 inches
(metro area)
Tucson
Pima County
12
14. Public Lands Bureau of Land Management
Forest Service
Indian Reservation
Local or State Parks
Military
National Parks
• Only 14% of land in
Other
county is private
Private
State Trust Land
Wildlife Refuge
Saguaro National Monument
14
15. Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan
Critical and sensitive habitat
Biological corridors
Riparian preservation
Historical and cultural resources
Mountain parks
Ranch conservation
Mule Deer
Coyote
Bobcat
Raccoon
Javelina
15
15
16. ROMP – Water Quality and the Environment
Jackson Jenkins, Director – RWRD
16
17. Pima/Tucson Water Cycle
Glen Canyon
Hoover Dam
Dam River Rocky Mountains
ado
lor
Co
Grand Canyon Reservoir
Lake Wastewater
Havasu Commercial/
Ce
Sa
Reclamation
Industrial
na
na
nta
ntr
Plant
r
ralll
Cu
Cu
Cru
Homes
zR
iiive
Golf Courses
re
e
Ariz
r o
r o
Reservoir
Well
ona
Booster
o
Reclaimed
ic
a
a
ex
Water
M
Plant
To
Booster
Project
Storage and
Parks o
Reservoir
Recovery
Project
Tucson
Hayden/Udall Well Schools Golf Courses
TWP
Well
Well Well
Well Booster 17
18. Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation System
RWRD
Regional Sewer
Service Area Rillito Vista
2nd largest wastewater
WRF system in Arizona
Regional Mt. Lemmon WRF
Wastewater
700-square-mile service
Reclamation
Facilities (WRF) area
Ina
Sub-Regional Road WRF 265,000 customers
WRFs
Roger 500 employees
Tucson City Road WRF
Limits
Conveyance
Randolph
Park WRF
3,500 miles of sewer pipe
73,000 manholes and
Avra Valley cleanouts
WRF
29 lift stations
Treatment
Pima County
Fairgrounds WRF 10 wastewater
reclamation facilities
Corona de
Tucson WRF
2 regional and
8 sub-regional
Green Valley WRF
Average 62 million
gallons per day (MGD) of
treated wastewater
30 dry tons per day of
biosolids to be applied to
agricultural lands
Arivaca Junction WRF
Pima County
Regional Wastewater
Reclamation Department
18
20. Water Reclamation Campus Treatment Facility
Purpose
To replace the aging Roger Road
WRF with a new
state-of-the-art WRF
To comply with the regulatory
requirement to significantly
reduce nutrient concentrations
in effluent discharged to the
Santa Cruz River
To provide Class A+ reclaimed
water quality
To provide reclaimed water to
Tucson Water for parks,
golf courses and environmental Water Reclamation Campus Treatment Facility
restoration projects
20
21. Water Reclamation Campus Treatment Facility
Project Schedule Status
Regulatory Compliance date for facility to be
operational and in compliance with regulatory
effluent quality requirements:
January 30, 2015
Contract substantial completion date:
August 14, 2014
Project is currently 62% complete
21
22. Water & Energy Sustainability Center
(WESC)
Project Purpose
To provide a state-of-the art
water laboratory to provide all
regulatory compliance testing
To provide analytical
services for other
governmental agencies WESC Lobby
and universities
Project Schedule Status
Project Completed
March 2012
Project/Operational
December 2011 WESC Exterior
22
23. Biosolids / Biogas Utilization Master Plan
Purpose
Develop a master plan for future regional treatment
and reuse of biosolids
Develop a master plan for the complete beneficial
utilization of biogas
Local Biosolids Application Digester Gas Complex
23
24. Regional Optimization Master Plan
Addressing Water Quality with
State-of-the-art Treatment
Bardenpho Treatment
• A+ reclaimed water
• Lower BOD
• Nitrification/denitrification
• Improved solids removal
So, What are the
projected levels???? 24 24
25. Average Pollutant Concentration, (mg/L)
Expected Effluent Quality vs. Existing Effluent Quality
EXISTING TREATMENT UPGRADED TREATMENT
Based on Actual Treatment Quality, 2010 Estimate Using Actual Percent Removal by Existing
BNR Facilities and Actual Influent Data, 2010
Ina Road Roger Ina Road Water Reclamation
WRF Road WRF WRF Campus
Nitrogen 26 31 2.5 2.3
Phosphorus 3.4 4.0 < 1.0* < 1.0*
BOD 12 10 2.4 2.7
TSS 7 16 3.1 3.3
* From Basis for Design – Effluent Quality Requirements Ina Road WRF Capacity and Effluent Quality Upgrade;
Ina Road WRF Capacity and Effluent Quality Upgrade Final Design Report, January 2011
25
26. ROMP Implementation Costs
ROMP planning level estimated cost
(2006 dollars): $536 million
ROMP budget including
cost inflation (assuming an
inflation rate of 5%): $720 million
Bonding/debt service:
1+ billion
26
28. ROMP Budget vs. Projected Final Costs
ROMP BUDGET PROJECTED FINAL COSTS
Ina Road WRF $301,290,000 $311,717,581
Plant Interconnect 41,190,000 33,415,907
Water Reclamation Campus 275,100,000 182,466,445
Central Laboratory Complex 28,870,000 28,870,000(5)
Biosolids / Biogas Master Plan 21,810,000 25,810,000(2)
SCADA 13,460,000 13,593,000
Roger Road WRF
Decommissioning / 38,290,000 41,107,736(3)
Deconstruction
TOTALS $720,010,000(1) $636,980,669(4)
1) The original ROMP Budget of $720,000,000 has been reduced to $660,000,000 due primarily to the budget savings in the
award of the Water Campus Treatment Facility DBO Project.
2) Significant savings in capital costs may be realized if the ultimate master plan results in a Public Private Partnership with
private sectors ownership such as in a DBFOO procurement.
3) The capital cost for the deconstruction of the Roger Road WRF property may be significantly reduced in the event of the
sale or lease of the property.
4) Additional reductions in the ROMP Budget below current ROMP Budget of $660,000,000 is anticipated when the project
procurement methods for the Biosolids / Biogas Master Plan and deconstruction of the Roger Road WRF Property are
decided.
5) The projected costs for the Central Laboratory Complex includes costs for an expansion to the Laboratory for future
RWRD needs and an interim lease agreement with the University of Arizona. 28
30. Tucson Water Potable and Reclaimed Water Systems
Water System
Tucson City Limits
$115,000,000 in Water Sales
$141,000,000 in Total Rev. Reclaimed Water Potable Water
800,000 Customers
225,000 Metered Services
212 Production Wells
65 Water Storage Fac.
100 Boosters
20,000 Fire Hydrants
18 Golf Courses
80,000 Valves
Reclaimed System
160 miles of pipeline
5 Reservoirs
10 MGD Filtration Plant
Recharge & Recovery
Facilities
Deliveries - 15,203 ac-ft
820 Sites, 1,073 meters 47 Parks
18 golf courses
704 SF residences
47 parks (43 City, 4 County)
61 schools
65 Water Storage Facilities
Groundwater
212 Production Well Sites
30
31. Available Water Supplies
Rocky Mountains
Renewable Water Supplies
Colorado River Allocation
Recycled Water
“Other” Water Supplies
In Channel Tucson Water
Recharge Supply
Finite Water Supplies
Groundwater
Stored Colorado River Water
Reclaimed
Water
31
32. 2011 Wet Water By Type
Total Water Production
120,350 AF
Reclaimed Water
11%
TARP Water
5%
Groundwater
20%
CAP Water
64%
Groundwater CAP TARP Reclaimed
32
35. 2011 Effluent Storage & Recovery Summary
Total Delivery to 3 Underground Storage Facilities
13,441.2 AF
9%
19%
44%
28%
Physical Losses Long Term Storage Cut to Aquifer Annual Recovery
35
36. Transition to Renewable Supplies
140,000
Water Production for TW Service Area
120,000
Total Potable Water Use at 1994 Level Reclaimed Water
100,000
(Acre-Feet)
80,000
CAP
60,000
40,000 Groundwater Pumping at 1959 Level
20,000 Pumped Groundwater
0
2011
1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Year
36
37. Tucson Water‘s History of Planning
2012
1989 2004 2008
RWMP
Long
Range
Plan &
Update RWMP
Tucson Water Resources Plan Water Plan: 2000-2050 Water Plan: 2000-2050
1990-2100 2008 Update
37
38. Potable Water Use
Projection to 2050
250,000
Demand = CAP Allocation
200,000
Volume (Acre-Feet)
150,000
2027
100,000
50,000
0
2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Year
Combination of Renewable and Finite Water Supplies Banked Colorado River Water
Colorado River Water Actual Demand
Potable Demand @145 GPCD
The data were provided to TW by PAG - PAG sources the data as:
University of Arizona, Eller College of Management, Economic and Business Research Center - 2011 3rd Quarter Forecast for Pima County
38
40. Cooperative Initiatives
Ecosystem Restoration
Kino Environmental Restoration Project
Army Corps of
Engineers
Pima County
RWRD & RFCD
City of Tucson
Before restoration
After restoration
40
41. Birds, Business and Reclaimed Water
Dr. Paul Green, Executive Director – Tucson Audubon Society
41
42. Birds, business, and reclaimed water
Birds and Pima County
Wastewater Treatment
Why so many kinds of
birds?
Economic value of
birding in Pima
County
PCRWRD proactively
encourages multiple
use
42
43. Birds, business, and reclaimed water
Southeast
Arizona/Pima
County
One percent
of the area
Fifty percent
of the birds
43
44. Birds, business, and reclaimed water
How many different kinds
of birds in Arizona?
Around 914 620 in Texas
species in North 616 in California
America
523 in New Mexico
525 species in
Arizona 485 in Florida
465 in Colorado
445 in New Jersey
44
45. Birds, business, and reclaimed water
US Fish & Wildlife Service
48 million Americans watch birds
Generate $82bn in total industry output
Generate 671,000 jobs
Contribute $11bn taxes
82% spending generated by non-
consumptive uses of refuges
26.2 million golfers
45
46. Birds, business, and reclaimed water
How do Wildlife Watchers
spend their $$ in Arizona?
Food $33,158,867 $76,523,656 $109,682,523
Lodging $15,317,068 $68,511,041 $83,828,109
Private transportation $28,246,411 $41,284,636 $69,531,047
Public transportation $905,018 $27,780,815 $28,685,834
Public land access fees $1,910,195 $3,193,743 $5,103,938
Guide fees $1,108,307 $1,193,379 $2,301,686
46
47. Birds, business, and reclaimed water
Total Economic Impact/000s/200x
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
Gem Show Superbowl XXX Hunting Fishing Golf Wildlife Viewing
47
48. Birds, business, and reclaimed water
Tucson Audubon Provides
Information Events
Finding Birds in National festival
Southeast Arizona Bird walks: several every week
Tucsonaudubon.org Events for learning, celebrating
Rare bird alert
Nature stores Places
Develop resources at facilities Water is scarce in an arid
where birding is good environment
Birding trails Water-based habitats attract
birds in abundance and variety
Cooperation promotes
understanding
RWRD Wastewater Reclamation
Facilities hugely attractive to
birds and birders
48
49. Birds, business, and reclaimed water
Roger Road
Avra Valley
Corona de
Tucson
Green Valley 49
57. Endocrine Disruptors (EDCs) – A Subset of ECs
Metals
Personal
Care
Products Industrial
Chemicals
Suspected Synthetic
Pesticides EDCs and
Herbicides Naturally
Fungicides Occurring
Hormones
Pharmaceutical
Drugs
57
58. Wastewater Treatment and
Removal of Emerging Contaminants
Effects of trace organics in effluent discharged into
surface water or through groundwater infiltration have
not been well studied.
There is evidence of
biodegradation of some
trace organic compounds in
the stream environment.
USGS: The Story of
4-n-nonylphenol
Biodegradation in
Stream Sediments
58
59. Wastewater Treatment and Removal of EDCs
Total Estrogenic Activity
Arizona Facility % Removal
Avra Valley 99.8
Roger Road 33 (>99)
Ina Road 88 (>99)
Randolph Park >99
Wildcat (Flagstaff) 96
Rio de Flag (Flagstaff) >99.6
Note: RWRD’s Roger Road and Ina Road WWTPs did not have nitrification-denitrification at the time of
this study. All others were tertiary plants with nitrification-denitrification. Black and Veatch, 2004
59
60. Dispose-A-Med Program
Featured Partners
The Regional Wastewater
Reclamation Department has
been actively involved with
education about emerging
contaminants in the waste
stream, and has participated
in several Dispose-A-Med
events in the community.
60
61. Water and Energy Sustainability Center
Current Partners
Regional Wastewater
Reclamation Department
Improved instrumentation
technology
Improved process
technology
Advanced research
Pilot testing 61
62. University of Arizona – Tucson, Arizona
USA
“Leading Research Institution in the American
Southwest”
62
63. Possible Partners
Regional
Wastewater
Reclamation
Department
WEST Center
63
64. Living River
Multi-year study funded by EPA, RWRD and
Regional Flood Control District
Partners: USGS, ADEQ, University of
Arizona, Sonoran Institute, Arizona State
University
Document effect of treatment process
improvements through ROMP
Investigate impact on water quality, habitat,
wildlife, groundwater infiltration
Study normal stream flows and stormwater
events 64
65. Living River Surface Water
Sampling Program
Surface water sampling
since 2004
Quarterly frequency
At least 4 locations – change
with conditions and access
Adjacent to well locations
also:
One upstream stormwater
location occasionally sampled
Compliance sampling conducted
at Roger Road and Ina Road
WRF outfalls
65
66. Proposed Initial Living River
Water Quality Indicators
Field Parameters
• Temperature
• Dissolved Oxygen
• Electrical Conductivity
• pH
Treatment Performance
Indicators
• Biological Oxygen Demand
• Total Suspended Solids
Microbiology
• E-Coli 66
67. Creating a New Water Resource
Claire Zucker, Sustainable Environment Program Director – PAG
67
69. Arid West Stormwater…our “Other” water
• Fast flowing
• Intermittent
• Often channelized
• Runs through streets
• Picking up pollutants
70. Stormwater - Supporting Our Water Resources
• Recharging our aquifers
• Providing water to our upland riparian areas
Urban
utilization
Key component of
water sustainability
72. Stormwater/ Rainwater Catchment Options
Kino Environmental Restoration Project
• U.S. Corps of Engineers & Pima County
• Re-developed detention basins
• 141 acres, with 28 acres riparian/open water
• Currently using only stormwater but can be
supplemented with effluent as needed
Student initiated and
installed
• Harvests approximately
18,000 gallons/year
• Captures roof runoff into
numerous micro basins
74. Stormwater/Rainwater Catchment Options
Commercial
Tucson Commercial Water Harvesting
Ordinance
• 50% of outdoor water
needs met through
rainwater harvesting
Oro Valley Landscape
Conservation Code
Community Design
Green Living
Co-op
“Barn-raising”
style workshops
2011:380 members
32 workshops
75. Conserve to Enhance
Connecting the Drops
Linking Urban Water Use with Local
Environmental Needs
• Sonoran Institute
• Watershed Management Group
• University of Arizona
18 Month Pilot Project
January 2011 - June 2012
• 60 participant households
• 220 volunteers engaged
• 1,100 volunteer-hours logged
• 4.1 acre-feet water saved
• 6,090 gallons cistern capacity
• 6,530 gallons of earthworks capacity
76. Quantifying Rainwater Harvesting
Conservation
Potential
2008 Estimate of Seasonal Rainfall in
15.00
the Tucson Area
10.00
Rainfall (in)
5.00 Rainfall is seasonal
0.00
Flows are unpredictable
WinterSpring
Summer Fall
Season
Total Primarily for offsetting landscape use
77. Tucson Clean and
Rainwater Beautiful
Harvesting/ Trees for Tucson – distributed
over 75,000 trees in Tucson
Low Impact since 1989
Development
At the Urban
Interface
Urban Heat
Island (UHI) Drought
Mitigation Preparedness Economic
Driver
78. City of Interim Watercourse
Government Leadership Tucson Improvement Policy
1988
Watercourse Amenities,
City of
Urban Heat Island Tucson
Safety, And Habitat
City of Tucson Water
(WASH) Regulations
1991
City of
Impacting Policies Tucson
Harvesting Guidance 2005
City of Manual
Commercial Rainwater
Review of 46 TucsonPima Harvesting Ordinance
Flood Control LID
2008
2011
regulations, guidelines, mun County Working Group
Town of Oro Valley
Town of Guidelines for Long-
icipal projects ADOT Landscape Conservation 2010 2011
Range Planning
Oro Valley
Code
Town of Sahuarita Farms River
Pima Kino Environmental
Stormwater 2012
Pima Sahuarita Master Plan Report2001
County Restoration Project
Detention/Retention 2012
5 County Marana Parks,
Number of Efforts per Year
Rainwater Harvesting at
Town of Manual (draft)
City of Recreation, Trails and 2010
Marana Ward Council
COT 2007
Tucson Open Space Master Plan
Offices
4 City of Pima County Regional
Urban Heat Island
Pima Tucson 2005
Workshops
Optimization Master 2007
County
Plan (ROMP) South Tucson
City of
3 City of Environmental
South Workplace 2011
Tucson Development and Job
2 Training Program
Rainwater Harvesting
City of
Training through 2012
Tucson
1 Tucson Water
0
1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015
Date
79. Likely Scenario?
Hotter
Drier
More of us Our
children’s
future
Recreation
Urban Wildlife
Graph showing Total Potable Demand projected to 2050. The black demand line is past demands.The Red demand line is projection of demand based on population data provided by PAG. The population projection is converted into demand here using a GPCD of 145.In 2027 our projected demand will equal our Colorado River Allocation of 144,172 AF/y. The grey area is the volume of our Allocation that has and will be stored for future use.A combination of Renewable and Finite Water Supplies is available today to Meet All Demands to 2050.
SEA is where the high Rocky Mountains from the north meet the tortured canyonlands of the Sierra Madre from the south, and where the subtropical Sonoran Desert of northwest Mexico merges with the higher elevation, much colder Chihuahuan Desert of Mexico's vast interior. Elements of both the Great Basin and the Great Plains also find their way into the cornucopia of habitat types that characterize SEA. More than 400 species of birds, almost half of all the birds of the United States and Canada combined, occur in an area that occupies less than one percent of the land area of North America.This amazing concentration of birds has not gone unnoticed. SEA is consistently recognized as one of America’s foremost birding destination. This is not just because of the sheer diversity of birds that use this region annually, equally important, many of the birds do not regularly occur anywhere else north of Mexico. Such beautiful birds as Beryline Hummingbirds, Elegant Trogon, Arizona Woodpecker, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Rufous-backed Robin, Rufous-capped Warbler, and Flame-colored Tanager are otherwise not regularly seen in all of the US. Rick Taylor from Birds of Southeastern Arizona.
Talk about how many species of birds in Arizona.Around 914 species in North America.525 species in Arizona620 in Texas616 in California523 in New Mexico485 in Florida465 in Colorado445 in New Jersey
Engaging the wildlife watching community can develop income for our community? Birds are the most important aspect of the phenomenon of non-consumptive use of wildlife. Watchable Wildlife.
People spend their money on accommodations, food, transport fees.
Watchable wildlife creates more economic impact that these other activities
Loss of lands of high biological importance to development is the biggest threat we face.The SDCP provides a framework to direct development to those areas that are less important.And provides guidelines on how to develop sensitive lands in ways that preserves as much of the wildlife value as possible.Ultimately, climate change will have the greatest influence.
Loss of lands of high biological importance to development is the biggest threat we face.The SDCP provides a framework to direct development to those areas that are less important.And provides guidelines on how to develop sensitive lands in ways that preserves as much of the wildlife value as possible.Ultimately, climate change will have the greatest influence.Sweetwater 313 speciesAvra Valley, 243 species.KERP = Ed Pastor Kino Environmental Restoration Project:171 species 1966 Ajo Detention Basins constructed to hold stormwater. 1999 Congress authorized an environmental restoration project to develop watercourses, marshes and riparian habitat under section 1135 of the Water Resources Development Act. Built by Army Corps in coordination with Pima County Regional Flood Control Department Ed Pastor Kino Environmental Restoration Project completed in November 2001 and dedicated May 2002. 125-acre footprint containing ponds, waterways, marshland, riparian habitat, upland desert, grassland Can detain and store 1,880 acre-feet of stormwater Detained stormwater used on vegetation at KERP as well as turf at Kino Sports Complex. Stormwaters are supplemented with reclaimed water. Water is recirculated through stream systems A wide variety of birds use KERP, including resident desert birds, migratory birds, riparian obligates, waterfowl, shorebirds … Tucson Audubon IBA program has monitored birds at KERP (check with Scott for status of monitoring) eBird bird list for KERP: http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?step=saveChoices&getLocations=hotspots&parentState=US-AZ&bMonth=01&bYear=1900&eMonth=12&eYear=2011&reportType=location&hotspots=L250145&continue.x=50&continue.y=5. KERP provides wildlife viewing opportunities but is not optimized for wildlife viewing because, unlike Sweetwater Wetlands, there are no trails through the wetlands, only a trail around the edge. Many areas can’t be seen from the perimeter, especially where vegetation near the perimeter has grown thick and blocks the view. This is presumably due to safety considerations inside an active flood detention system.
PAG - council of governments, regional view, sustainability perspectivePoints to coverStormwater - recharging upland aquifers but flooding our urban waterways Utilizing stormwater through rainwater harvesting (RWH) RWH benefits (Reducing potable demand/greening urban lands/protecting against urban heat island (UHI). Private sector opportunities Regional record of public sector Implementation New opportunities, through UHI benefit, link to environmental justice and transportation mobility
Stormwater – the other waterHow can we utilize this fast flowing, dirty, undependable resourceDirect municipal utilization is difficult because of prior appropriations rightsConcern for meeting the NPDES pollution control requirements, but unlike eastern states, where TMDLs are a concern, here we worry about how to utilize the water
This is a mutually sustaining interdependent systemA balancing act between human and environmental needsShallow groundwater areas – ribbons of green providingHabitatWildlife connectivitySense of place70% of AZ species depend on riparian habitat at some point in their life cycle – critical link2,560, 27,820 acre feet, just from these areas (81% of them exempt)
A Rose by any other nameHow do we find the vision in all of this- do we work on one element or do we look for links or some of both, but not going at cross perposes is importantWe are already practicing RWHWe call it different names whether we are approaching it as a water manager, a roadway engineer, and environmental regulator or a environmental activist
Kerp description:In the mid 90’s the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Pima County agreed to reconstruct and expand the original 50 acre Tucson (Ajo) basin. The final footprint of the new KERP covers 141 acres that contains 28 acres of riparian and open water including a 5.6 acre, fify-foot deep pond; 21 acres of grassland, mesquite bosque, marsh and upland vegetation that rises to an elevation of 2,520 feet and another 92 acres that includes flood control structures, a basin earthen berm, and a recreational path that surrounds the basin. an extensive pumping and valve system circulates and mixes reclaimed and storm water within the basin. Reclaimed water is used when harvest water stores are low. Reclaimed water is treated wastewater (effluent) from the metropolitan treatment facilities that is distributed by the City of Tucson’s reclaimed water system. Stormwater use 2002 120 2003 87 2004 18 2005 48 2006 02007 65 2008 194 Stormwater from a Water of the US – Not so simple - Engineering difficulties - Prior appropriations -Certificate of Water Rights -Point of diversion -Designated use , Is wildlife a appropriate use?