When thinking of Arizona, pictures of large bodies of water do not exactly come to mind. This pretty much sums up the state of the Arizona water supply.
The biggest issue faced by Arizonans has nothing to do with water cleanliness and drinkability - it is the scarcity that is quite daunting for residents of this arid state.
While water scarcity is the main issue, the ebb and flow of the supply lead to many different issues impacting the quality of water obtained by Arizona businesses and households.
There are three main suppliers of water in Arizona: the Colorado River, groundwater, and surface water from smaller rivers around the state. To supplement these oft depleted resources, effluent water is used (treated wastewater).
In a unique situation where surface water supplies can be dramatically different from season to season, Arizona has to be creative with its limited supply of water.
Common Water Problems by City
Once a source of water is identified, communities must deal with ensuring it is usable. With a variety of types of water, each area has its own issues with contaminants and natural impurities.
City | Water Source | Common Problems | Typical Symptoms |
|---|---|---|---|
Phoenix | Colorado River Salt River Verde River | Hard Water Chlorination Sediment | Dry Skin Foul Odors Limescale |
Tucson | Colorado River Groundwater | Hard Water | Dry Skin Limescale |
Mesa | Colorado River Salt River Verde River Groundwater | Hard Water Chlorination | Dry Skin Odors Limescale |
Scottsdale | Colorado River Salt River Verde River Groundwater | Hard Water Aggressive Treatment | Dry Skin Limescale Odors |
Chandler | Colorado River Salt River Verde River Groundwater | Hard Water Aggressive Treatment | Dry Skin Limescale |
Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona uses multiple sources of water, all of which is surface water. The water travels through canals to reach the treatment facilities for the city.
As water travels over distances, it picks up a variety of contaminants - some more harmful than others. Phoenix uses a chlorination process to treat its water supply. While the water is clean, chlorination can lead to other issues.
It is not uncommon to encounter odors wafting from the water in Phoenix homes and businesses. It can range from the typical smell of chlorine to a fishy or earthy scent.
Hard water is also prevalent as the water picks up sediment and mainly natural iron deposits along the way. Hard water leads to dry, itchy skin and limescale build up.
Tucson
The Central Arizona Project canal brings Colorado River water over 300 miles to provide Tucson residents with drinking water. The water travels through this canal, picking up natural sediments along the way.
Tucson allows the water to recharge naturally via the use of specialized basins. As the water sinks through the earth’s surface, it again picks up sediments that influence its quality.
All these natural influences lead to hard water quality in Tucson, Arizona. Limescale leads to inefficient appliances, spotty dishware, and can impact cooling systems. Many residents experience dry skin from hard water, as well.
Mesa
The water supply essentially splits Mesa, Arizona in half. One side of town receives water from the Central Arizona Project canal, which is supplied by the Colorado River. The other half gets water from the Salt River Project canal that pulls water from the Salt and Verde Rivers.
The city supplements these surface water supplies with over 30 different deep wells that bring water up from deep underneath the surface.
Naturally, water traveling so far features natural and unnatural contaminants. Chlorination is used to eliminate anything harmful and make all the water in Mesa safe to drink.
Residents can expect some odors to emanate from their taps at times, as chlorine can have that impact depending on the amount used and other factors. Hard water is also an issue, leading to dry skin and limescale build up around faucets and in plumbing.
Scottsdale
Like Mesa, Scottsdale requires multiple water sources to supply enough water to all of its residents. The Colorado, Salt, Verde, and underground sources are all used.
At times, the general quality of Scottsdale, Arizona water can be poor. With contaminants present, the water must be treated aggressively. This can lead to unpleasant odors and poor taste.
Hard water is a major issue as there are many influences that introduce minerals to the supply. This can lead to a build-up of limescale in appliances, cooling systems, and plumbing, reducing overall efficiency.
Chandler
Like many other areas of Arizona, Chandler gets its water from a variety of sources. The Central Arizona Project, Salt River Project, and groundwater supplies are all used to provide a consistent flow of water to homes and businesses.
Chandler also supplements dwindling supplies with reclaimed wastewater. All of these sources are treated aggressively before being sent into the public system for consumption.
Hard water is the most prevalent issues faced by Chandler residents. The limescale build up cause by hard water is a nuisance and can result in poorly performing appliances. Dry, itchy skin is also a symptom of bathing in hard water.