Building urban infrastructure diverts stormwater from parking lots, streets and rooftops, which then captures it to grow trees and native vegetation in public parks, traffic circles and other public spaces, creating shade and natural habitats.
TUCSON, Ariz. — There are no lush green lawns among the rows of single-family homes that line a quiet boulevard a mile west of the University of Arizona campus. Instead, small lizards scurry across gravel to the shade of cacti, shrubs and trees native to the Southwestern desert, as cicadas drone and backyard chickens cluck in the triple-digit heat now common here in July.
All new commercial developments in the city must install mechanisms to capture stormwater from their roofs and parking lots for part of their landscaping. The city also offers rebates for existing commercial properties to add stormwater capture. Cities around Arizona already have begun collaborating on water treatment plants and sharing data to better allocate water resources in the region. There is no single solution or source that will solve the region’s long-term water security, local officials say. But a coordinated effort is underway to better adapt to a future with less Colorado River water.The Colorado River is in crisis, as the region suffers from two decades of drought — the worst megadrought in 1,200 years.
Because of the heavy rain and snow in the region this winter, Arizona and other Colorado River states have a bit of a reprieve in making heavy cuts before new federal rules go into effect after 2026. “The technology is safe and proven,” Peters said. “In this time of uncertainty for Arizona’s water supplies, this option can help bolster water resource portfolios for many communities.”Some cities aren’t waiting. Scottsdale, a city of 243,000 residents just northeast of Phoenix, has been recycling wastewater on a small scale, which so far has been used by local breweries. By 2026, city officials hope to use it widely in the community.
The tool, called the Central Arizona Water Clearinghouse, provides water supply and demand information, showing water infrastructure, communities’ capacity and the way they connect to other water infrastructure in the region. Ultimately, the tool can pair different communities’ needs with potential collaborators, she said.
Wastewater is a valuable resource that can now serve multiple communities through partnerships, said Nazario Prieto, the assistant water services director for Phoenix, which recently broke its record for most consecutive days with 110-degree or higher temperatures.
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