Summary:
Peoria is growing quickly. To ensure it can supply new growth with a renewable water supply, Peoria maintains multiple planning documents including its 100-year Designation of Assured Water Supply and Integrated Water Resources Master Plan. While most new water users fall comfortably within these plans, a small number of relatively high water using customers can render these plans moot. Significant deviations from the plans can make it challenging for the City to fulfill its voter-approved vision set forth in the General Plan.
So that the City can protect the rights, interests, safety, health, and welfare of its residents, City Management is proposing adoption of an ordinance for future non-residential customers (e.g., commercial, institutional, industrial) that use a relatively high volume of water (“Large Water Users”). The ordinance requires future customers, and existing customers seeking to significantly increase their water use, to apply for a City-issued permit before beginning or expanding water service. The general concept for the ordinance was borrowed from Valley municipalities that have similar ordinances in place including Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, and Phoenix. All current customers are grandfathered and do not need to receive a permit unless they propose to alter their facilities resulting in increased water use.
Through additional discussion and analysis following the November 19, 2024 Study Session, staff has made minor changes to language regarding “Water-Intensive Users” as well as in the enforcement section. These changes better reflect the intent of the Water-Intensive User provisions in that it is a voluntary water conservation effort meant to encourage users to adopt sensible water saving measures reflective of Peoria’s Sonoran desert environment. Changes to enforcement language ensure all provisions are logical, clear, and consistent.
Staff has contacted the following organizations and received no substantiative comments:
§ Arizona Assisted Living Federation of America
§ Arizona Assisted Living Homes Association
§ Arizona State Land Department
§ Greater Phoenix Economic Council
§ Peoria Chamber of Commerce
§ Salt River Project
§ Southwest Carwash Association
§ Valley Partnership
§ Western Carwash Association
Peoria staff will present on feedback received from outreach efforts as well as minor changes made to the draft ordinance language since the November 19, 2024 Study Session.