One Water 2100 Master Plan: Community Questions Answered
What is the City of Tucson doing to ensure people, organizations, and others take part in conservation practices?
Using water wisely has become a way of life for Tucsonans. Residents use less water per person than almost every other city in the Southwest. In fact, Tucson uses the same amount of water annually as it did in the mid-1980’s with 40 percent more people. Through improvements in water efficient technology and a shift to desert-adapted landscapes, Tucson’s water use has decreased significantly. The One Water 2100 Master Plan will develop a set of strategies and actions which will help Tucson make continued gains on existing conservation practices over the next 80 years, as well as guide implementation of new water efficient management strategies, water policy and outreach and education.
How will One Water integrate strategies to address urban wildlife and habitat conservation, environmental justice and economic justice, as these issues apply to water?
The Master Plan, through the input of stakeholders, will develop strategies and actions that directly support the plan’s guiding principles to enhance the community’s quality of life by preserving and restoring habitat and open spaces; increase urban tree canopy; supporting economic growth; and, achieve affordability, accessibility, and social justice by committing to fiscal responsibility while prioritizing equitable projects and programs. These strategies and actions will directly inform City of Tucson policy decisions for the next 80 years.
What is the timeline for the public process associated with the Master Plan?
The Master Plan is in the “Community Engagement and Adoption” phase. This involves planning coordination, development of strategies and actions, stakeholder and public participation, and mayor and council review/approval of the Master Plan by mid-end of 2023. The next phase is the “Implementation” phase, which includes alignment with the City’s General Plan called “Plan Tucson.” The implementation phase will include prioritization of strategies for the capital improvement program, and tracking/reporting metrics and goals.
How will Tucson Water and the One Water 2100 Master Plan ensure sustainable, quality water considering Tucson’s population growth and dwindling water resources, such as the Colorado River’s historically low water levels that feed our water supplies?
Tucson’s water supply is well-managed and can support, population projections. Water is stored underground in a natural aquifer, so unlike many communities that enter drought when it doesn’t rain because their reservoirs are low, Tucson’s water supply is more consistent and resilient. While Tucson Water always asks the community to conserve, rarely are there asks for drastic measures to be taken because our supply is not critically low. Tucson Water actively monitors local water supplies, as well as conditions on the Colorado River Basin, and responds accordingly. The master plan, which is being developed through scenario planning, public and stakeholder input, and technical expertise will help identify strategies and actions to address both population growth and use of Colorado River Water through the Central Arizona Project.
Due to the ongoing drought conditions, will Tucson Water customers be forced to partake in water restrictions and/or stricter conservation measures?
When discussing drought measures for the community, it’s important to underscore that Tucson currently has a resilient water supply and a strong conservation culture. Tucsonans use less water per person than almost every other city in the Southwest. As a city, Tucson uses the same amount of water annually as the mid-1980’s with 40 percent more people.
Tucson Water is developing guidelines for customers based on various factors including historic water use, property size, landscape type and building characteristics. These guidelines will provide customers with better information on how their usage compares to properties with similar characteristics and will empower them take reasonable conservation actions. Additionally, , the City is developing water budgets for large commercial landscapes and providing residential customers with information about average residential usage on their monthly bills. The City is also looking at additional tools for residential customers to provide more specific information on expected water use based on household characteristics.
How does One Water 2100 ensure all people are involved, such as youth, non-City of Tucson residents, and stakeholders like Native American Tribes?
Equity is guiding principle of the One Water 2100 Master Plan, which states: Achieve affordability, accessibility, and social justice by committing to fiscal responsibility and prioritizing equitable projects and programs. Additionally, the next guiding principle states: Ensure public confidence with safe, high-quality water supplies and exceptional customer service that includes transparency and responsiveness. Currently, Tucson Water is garnering input and feedback from a variety of stakeholders, including concerted efforts to reach out to Native American Tribes. Tucson Water’s youth education programs are a constant in the community and the master plan is being developed to ensure better quality for life for the next generation.
