For more than two decades, Tucson Water has been strategically using Colorado River water. The goal is to maximize this renewable water resource to create a resilient future for our desert home. Here’s how we're doing that:

- Using our Colorado River allotment as our primary water supply and storing the surplus. This approach stores river water for the future and allows our local aquifer levels to recover as we’ve reduced groundwater pumping.

- Investing in facilities to recharge, recover, and bank Colorado River water, including Tucson Water’s Central Avra Valley Storage and Recovery Project, the Southern Avra Valley Storage and Recovery Project, and Pima Mine Road Recharge Project.

- Partnering with cities, towns, tribes, and farmers to store Colorado River

- water and reduce local groundwater pumping.

- Joining other cities, states, and tribes to proactively leave water in Lake Mead to protect the Colorado River.

- Conserving and diversifying water resources to reduce reliance on any one source and to save more water in the aquifer. That includes adding stormwater/rainwater into our resource mix and launching the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project and Shirley C. Scott Southeast Houghton Area Recharge Project to recharge recycled water.

Our community is ready to meet the challenges of 2023 and beyond: new drought declarations, climate change, and evolving regulations.

Take the New One Water Survey

Your initial feedback from the One Water 2100 master planning process identified water supply and conservation as the top two areas of concern. Now we need your help to guide long-range decisions about water management practices and the Capital Improvement Program. Take the next feedback survey at tucsononewater.com 

Please forward the link to share the survey with family, friends, and neighbors because a wide range of input is important to our water future.

In 2023, Resolve to Find & Fix Leaks 

The EPA estimates that about 10% of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more of water per day. That amount of water can satisfy the average daily water use for a Tucsonan and more! Some leaks are easy to spot, while others take more detective work. Start the year strong and resolve to save water by finding and fixing leaks:

- Access the Smart Home Water Guide for step-by-step instructions on how to locate and fix leaks inside and outside the home.

- Listen to your toilets. Do you hear water constantly flowing? Then you may have a leaky toilet – a huge potential water waster. Click here to order free toilet tank dye detection tablets and click   here to see how to use the tablets.         

- Go to Tucson Water’s Winter Prep Tips page to learn how to protect pipes, backflow assemblies, and irrigation system equipment from freezing and bursting.

- Want real-time water use info? Check out our webpage and guide on Flow Monitoring Devices.

Tucson Water wants to hear your success story about finding and fixing leaks around your home. To share your story or to ask questions, email us!

Water Matters Opinion Survey

It only takes 3 minutes to take the Water Matters feedback poll. Your comments will guide staff on the topics you want to know about in 2023 and offer suggestions on how to improve Water Matters. Your answers are anonymous. Thank you! Please take the survey and help to keep Water Matters fresh.

City of Tucson Environmental Services

Download RecycleCoach Today

RecycleCoach is a free app for all your recycling questions. Once you download it, you can locate your residence, access your trash and recycling schedules, plus set reminders for pick-up days. You can also search on any item to see if it should be put in recycling or trash. There’s even a blog with helpful tips!

Download App

Pima County Wastewater Reclamation

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, visit www.pima.gov/animalcare or call 520-724-5900.

Pacc Info