The City will recognize the efforts of previous and current Council leaders to transform its water portfolio from complete reliance on groundwater pumping, to a blended platform incorporating water from the Central Arizona Project (CAP); the Salt River Project; Reclaimed Water; the Gila River Indian Community; groundwater; and long-term storage credits. Long-time city residents and former-Mayors John Keegan and Bob Barrett have been invited to receive special thanks and recognition for their passion and support and forethought to provide infrastructure for and diversification of Peoria’s water portfolio, on behalf of all Peoria leadership.

Prior to 1998, the City of Peoria was 100% reliant on groundwater to provide its residents and businesses with treated drinking water. With the adoption of the new, statewide “Assured Water Supply” rules in 1995 (which were primarily enacted to transition water users from groundwater to different sources of water), the City of Peoria began its efforts to diversify its water supply. As a result and since FY 2000, the City of Peoria has invested approximately $454.4 million in its capital improvement program to transform and position the City’s “Water Portfolio” so that groundwater now makes up only 5% of its water source. These prudent and wise investment decisions by the current and previous City Councils have resulted in a guaranteed 100-year city water supply designed to further and continue Peoria’s population growth and economic strength.

The City’s current water portfolio now stems from five main sources: water from the Central Arizona Project (37%); Salt River Project (36%); Reclaimed Water (11%); the Gila River Indian Community (10%); groundwater (5%); and Long-term Storage Credits (1%).  Tthe highlights of Peoria’s water portfolio that have contributed to this transformation include:

• 1998: The City’s first water reclamation facility, the Beardsley Road plant, was opened.  The City also constructed its first recharge facility, the Beardsley Road Underground Storage Facility.
• 1998: The cities of Peoria and Glendale signed agreements assigning Peoria 23% of the treatment capacity at the Pyramid Peak Water Treatment Facility; Peoria begins serving Central Arizona Project water, augmenting groundwater.
• 2002: Peoria opens the Greenway Water Treatment Facility and begins serving water from the Salt River Project; the Central Arizona Project opens the Agua Fria Recharge Project, and the City of Peoria begins to store excess Central Arizona Project water at the facility.
• 2003: Central Arizona Project opens the Hieroglyphic Mountain Recharge Project, and the City of Peoria begins to store excess Central Arizona Project water at the facility.
• 2006: Peoria enters into a lease with the Gila River Indian Community for 100 years to use a portion of its CAP water, adding to the City’s replenishable supplies.
• 2008: Peoria opens the Butler Road Water Reclamation Facility, which sends reclaimed water to the New River – Agua Fria Underground Storage Project, operated by Salt River Project as recharge; some reclaimed water also sent for non-potable landscaping purposes to Pioneer Park, the City Hall complex, and one homeowners association.
• 2015: Peoria purchases the New River Utility Company and acquires its CAP water rights (an additional 1185 acre-feet of water to the City’s supply).
• 2016: The cities of Peoria and Glendale begin design work on a an additional water treatment expansion agreement at the Pyramid Peak Water Treatment facility, resulting in a 47% ownership of the facility by Peoria.
• 2018: The City, in partnership with private development, begins construction on the Lone Mountain Water Line, a 24” waterline that extends from the east boundary of the City across the Agua Fria River to provide connectivity for Peoria’s growing population.
• 2019: The City Council approves an additional $118.7 million in water and wastewater capital improvement projects for FY20 and a 10-year CIP total of $379.8 million.  This includes $300,000 for an engineering study to determine the expansion of the City’s reclaimed water distribution system, and $7.7 million for its construction in FY 22 & 23.

We are now entering the next phase of our long history of exceptional stewardship of Peoria’s water supplies. We are moving forward with the determination and construction of projects to achieve the highest and best use of reclaimed water resources, including the extension of the purple pipe system to serve more areas, expansion of recharge capabilities, and the connection of systems to increase operation efficiency. All this will be accomplished with a goal of ensuring the most control, protections and beneficial use of all reclaimed water produced.

As a part of the City’s efforts to recognize the hard work, long-term planning and implementation of its many unique water and wastewater projects and strategies, Mayor Carlat will present former-Mayors John Keegan and Bob Barrett with a recognition and appreciation of their efforts to set the foundation upon which we may now build to assure the City’s healthy and secure water position as we plan for the future of the City of Peoria.