from beaks to bills to basins: securing our water...
TRANSCRIPT
From Beaks to Bills to Basins: Securing our Water Future
Candice RupprechtTucson Water
WaterNow Alliance – Fostering ResilienceOctober 26, 2016
Welcome to Tucson, Arizona
1974 Peak Demand Crisis
• Portions of the service area UNABLE TO MEET DEMANDS due to insufficient well capacity
• Groundwater pumping was 5x natural recharge Typical Tucson
landscape in the 1960s & 1970s
Pete the Beak works to Beat the Peak
Preferences shift…A typical landscape today
75
95
115
135
155
175
195
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015
GPC
D
Tucson’s GPCD (1980 - 2015)
2015
Historically, outdoor water use was 45% of single-family use
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015
Acre
-Fee
t
YearGroundwater Production TARP CAP Production Reclaimed Production
Total Potable Water Use at 1985 Level
Water Production for theTucson Water Service Area
Planning for Our Water Future
Era of “demand management” and “capital conservation” Era of “supply diversification” and “utility efficiency”
60s 70s 80s 90s 2000s 2010s
Acquired agland for GW
rights (future
recharge)
Planned for CO River water & initiated
conservation programs
Established Reclaimed
Water System
Expanded conservation
programs
Planned storage for
CO River water & drought planning
Rethinking resiliency & alternative
supplies
Groundwater
Colorado River Water
ReclaimedWater
The Conservation Ethic SticksAnd begins to drive new approach to resiliency…
2008
2013
2010
2012
Residential Water Harvesting
• Requires a shift from traditional demand management
• Over 1,200 rebates since 2013 & currently largest $ rebate program
• Significant investment for utility & customers
• Understanding scalable solutionsWe find ourselves with an opportunity to re-think how we manage rainwater...
• The water is free.• The water is better for my plants.• I need to deal with a flooding problem.• I want more shade.• I want a garden.• I’m tired of my water bills going up.• I think it’s the “right” thing to do.• I don’t think we should depend on water from faraway rivers.
“I want to harvest water because… ___________________”
Quality of Life & Community Ethic
Moving toward OneWater
• Expansion of rainwater harvesting program• Exploration of stormwater opportunities• Rethinking the role of recycled water• Persistence with traditional
demand management programs• Drought planning &
CO River basin stewardship