Arizona takes initiative as Colorado River supplies shrink
As Arizona prepares for less Colorado River water, Valley cities are looking at both new infrastructure and new ways to manage future water demand. Phoenix is moving forward with a major project at the Union Hills Water Treatment Plant, while Scottsdale is considering new rules to better manage water use.
The Phoenix City Council approved an approximately $88 million construction contract for improvements to the Union Hills Water Treatment Plant, one of the two city-owned facilities that treat water from the Colorado River. The project includes construction of a new 20-million-gallon finished-water reservoir. The additional reservoir will provide more storage and flexibility for the city’s water system while also allowing work to be completed on the plant’s existing reservoir.
Meanwhile, in Scottsdale, the city is examining how much future water developments could require, proposing new rules for projects expected to use vast amounts of water. The proposal has not yet been adopted, and Scottsdale has not set a date for when the changes could take effect.
