In the Desert, Where There is Water, There is Life!

Tucson's water story is a 4,000-year tradition of responsible desert dwelling in the Sonoran Desert. Providing fresh, responsibly sourced, quality water has been, and continues to be, the vision and commitment of Tucson’s Mayor and City Council and City employees for more than 120 years. In this beautiful, thriving desert community, Tucson’s growth requires a more responsive water system to deliver safe and reliable water to our customers.

Since then, Tucson has become one of the largest communities in North America to thrive entirely on a groundwater system. Whereas most communities have lakes, rivers, streams, and reservoirs to draw water from, Tucson’s water system inhabits the ancient aquifer system that lies beneath our feet.

Tucson Water proudly serves nearly 750,000 people in the Tucson metropolitan area at their households and businesses with water primarily sourced from the mighty Colorado River. The water is delivered by Central Arizona Project (CAP) facilities, a tremendous engineering marvel of the 20th century, which transports water from the river via 336 miles of canal across the desert floor and uphill about 3,000 feet to its destination in Tucson. Tucson Water recharges the Colorado River water into local aquifers, which act as a natural filter before the water is pumped out through groundwater wells, treated, and served to customers.

Our team thoroughly and consistently monitors water quality at hundreds of locations across Tucson’s water system— from our wells to your homes and businesses—and conducts tens of thousands of water quality tests every year.

"Tucson Water customers should know that we go far beyond what is required by federal and state regulations to deliver a safe and sustainable resource to you. This is our commitment to provide clean and secure water in our desert home. We are Tucsonans working for Tucson."

To make this happen, our water quality team relies on robust capital improvement projects that invest your money into new infrastructure. These infrastructure improvements are designed to provide more reliability and to relieve other pressing challenges surrounding water resources and water quality, especially when it comes to sustainability.

I, and our employees, take tremendous pride in serving the Tucson community and ensuring that high-quality drinking water is delivered to your home or business every day. Together as a community, we will continue to be the responsible stewards of Tucson’s water future and guide ourselves toward being responsible Sonoran Desert dwellers now and for future generations.

The Public and Mayor and Council Approve the One Water 2100 Plan 

Thank you, Tucson! Over four years, Tucson Water listened to and garnered feedback from thousands of you who care deeply about creating a plan that ensures a resilient and sustainable water future. The result: Tucson’s One Water 2100 Plan, a nationally recognized approach that places equal value on surface water, groundwater, recycled water, and stormwater. Mayor and Council approved the One Water 2100 Plan on October 17, 2023. Watch for steps toward implementation in the next year. Click here for an explainer video.

Your One Stop to Prepping Your Irrigation System & Landscape for Fall

November’s cooler temperatures offer an opportunity to use less water and nourish your landscape. For these resources, click on the links, or contact the Conservation Office at conservation@tucsonaz.gov or (520)791-4331.

Irrigation Maintenance Checklist: Print-and-go list with overall and quarterly maintenance info plus seasonal watering tips. For October-April: Set your controller to the recommended seasonal schedule, prune using best practices, and inspect, test, clean, repair and/or replace filter screens, drip emitters, spray heads, Y-filters, and piping as needed.

Water Use It Wisely Fall Planting Blog: Find a bevy of landscape planning tips, fun reads, Drab-to-Fab landscape videos, and more from this Tucson Water partner. Learn how to replace plants lost during the record hot summer or exchange high-water use plants with water-thrifty ones!

University of Arizona Plant Finder: Find the right plants for your landscape with this site’s click-and-sort feature across more than 600 regional plant types: succulents, cacti, trees, flowers, ornamental grasses, groundcover, shrubs, and vines.  All species are sourced from regional experts who know and work with these plants in Southern Arizona.

“How can reducing water use from December through February potentially save on my water and sewer billing?”

Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department calculates your monthly sewer charges by taking the average of your monthly water use for December, January, and February, generally considered the lowest months of usage. It’s especially important to be mindful of water use during those months! Click here for more info.

City of Tucson
Environmental Services

Celebrate America Recycles Day

November 15 is America Recycles Day. Why recycle? It helps to save energy, conserve natural resources, prevent pollution, and reduce landfill space. Place empty, clean, and dry recyclable items in your blue bin, remembering:

• No plastic grocery bags
• Items should be larger than a tennis ball
• Leave on container labels

Pima County
Wastewater Reclamation

Foster or Adopt with PACC! 

Hundreds of dogs and cats are awaiting their new homes at Pima Animal Care Center (PACC). Help these animals by adopting or fostering today! For more information about how to adopt or foster a pet, click below or call (520) 724-5900.

Water Matters is a monthly newsletter brought to you by Tucson Water