11.	WATER RESOURCES ELEMENT


The City of Peoria knows that planning for its future requires 
consideration of the current and future water supply and demand.  
Because of its value, the City’s potable water resources will play an 
increasingly important role in Peoria’s growth and development 
plans.  Fiscally and environmentally, intertwining Peoria’s water 
resource planning and development planning makes sense.

The Water Resources Element is organized in the following 
manner:

11.a.	Introduction 
11.b.	Summary of Existing Water Supplies
11.c.	Summary of Existing Water Resources
11.d.	Goals, Objectives and Policies
11.e.	Implementation Program (Strategies to Increase 
Capacity)
11.f.	Implementation Program (Table)

	11.a.	 INTRODUCTION 

Water policy direction and goals are fluid and ongoing.  Nationally, 
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lowered the maximum 
contaminant level (MCL) of arsenic.  The EPA set the new MCL for 
arsenic at 10 ?g/liter, whereas currently the MCL is set at a level of 
50 ?g/liter.  Because surface water supplies go through a 
treatment process before being served, this is mainly a 
groundwater issue.  Peoria must meet the new standard by January 
2006.
At the state level, the Arizona Department of Water Resources 
(ADWR) recently adopted the final version of the Third 
Management Plan (TMP).  The TMP is the latest management plan 
in the series of five that was mandated by the Groundwater 
Management Act of 1980 (GMA).  The approval of the TMP brings 
with it new regulatory requirements for municipalities, particularly 
in the area of water conservation.  Peoria also abides by the 
Assured Water Supply (AWS) rules.  The AWS rules require that 
water providers prove a 100-year supply of renewable water 
before any new residential growth occurs.  

Due to the regulatory need to reduce groundwater mining, Peoria 
has converted to renewable water resources for the majority of its 
water supply.  The primary sources of renewable water are Central 
Arizona Project (CAP) water, Salt River Project (SRP) water, and 
effluent.  In September 1998, Peoria began this conversion by 
using CAP water directly through the City of Glendale’s Pyramid 
Peak Water Treatment Plant.  In June 2002, Peoria’s Greenway 
Water Treatment Plant began operating.  This plant allows Peoria 
to use SRP surface water as a potable source.  In the spring of 
1999, Peoria started to receive recharge credits for the highly 
treated effluent being recharged back into the groundwater aquifer 
at the Beardsley Wastewater Treatment Plant.  The credits earned 
for the recharged effluent can be redeemed by the City through 
the water supply wells.  Future recharge of surface water also will 
be recovered through water supply wells.  The proposed change in 
the arsenic MCL will present a challenge to Peoria because much of 
the City’s renewable supply utilization will occur through the 
groundwater wells.  

Given the value of water in an arid environment, Growing Smarter 
included requirements for cities to recognize and plan for water 
supply constraints.  For cities and counties that match certain 
criteria, the Growing Smarter requires a summary of the current 
water supply.  Components of the current water supply include 
surface water, groundwater, and effluent.  Although not referenced 
in the Growing Smarter legislation, water conservation can be 
considered a quasi-supply because it allows a city’s water budget 
to serve more people.  Water conservation ties into the next water 
component in Growing Smarter, which is an analysis of how future 
growth will be served by available water supplies or by a city’s plan 
to obtain a larger supply.  Growing Smarter recognizes that water 
planning and planning for future growth goes hand in hand.

Peoria firmly believes in planning for future water needs and 
availability.  Recently, a Water Resources Master Plan was 
completed that outlined the City’s options and strategies for 
meeting future water demands.  The Master Plan outlines both the 
legally and physically available supplies, as well as the 
infrastructure available to transport the water to Peoria’s citizens.  
Stages for implementation were projected out for development of 
new resources and infrastructure.  The implementation strategies 
were considered according to their costs, reliability, and political 
viability.

11.b.	  SUMMARY OF EXISTING WATER SUPPLIES

The City has been actively engaged in obtaining and serving 
reliable and cost-effective water resources to its customers since 
1954.  At present, the City has a portfolio of supplies from which 
to serve its customers.  Each water supply is discussed below.

SALT RIVER PROJECT WATER RIGHTS
Approximately 8,765 acres of land in the SRP water planning areas 
of the City of Peoria have SRP water rights.  The City has a water 
delivery contract with SRP so that the City is the delivery agent for 
water rights appurtenant to urbanized SRP lands.  As of 2002, 
approximately 7,370 acres had been urbanized.  SRP estimates 
that approximately 22,836 acre/feet of SRP water are available to 
those urbanized lands (1996, SRP entitlement reports).  This 
constitutes a firm supply dependent upon SRP drought delivery 
scenario.

SRP estimates that at build out, all the lands in Peoria with SRP 
water rights will be urbanized.  Assuming that happens, the City 
will become the delivery agent for 8,765 acres of land with SRP 
rights.  Approximately 32,600 acre/feet annually (afa) of SRP water 
will be available for delivery to those lands based on SRP 
estimates.  At present, according to federal law SRP water may not 
serve off project lands. 

GROUNDWATER ALLOWANCE
The City has an established volume of groundwater that may be 
pumped as part of its AWS.  This quantity was established in 1995 
by the AWS rules and was computed to be 7.5 times the amount of 
water the City provided to its customers in 1994.  In 1994, the City 
used approximately 14,634 afa.  Therefore, the groundwater 
allowance is 109,800 afa (7.5 x 14,634 rounded to nearest 100 
afa).  If used at a constant annual rate, the supply is equal to 1,098 
af for 100 years.  Through 2002, the City has used a small portion 
of the allowance.

INCIDENTAL GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
The AWS rules established a standard incidental recharge factor to 
recognize that some of the water used in a municipal system 
returns to the subsurface.  This recharge is return flow from water 
leaks, waste, excess and urban irrigation.  This volume is 
calculated annually as four percent of the total water used by the 
City.  In 2002, this amounted to approximately 909 afa.  Incidental 
recharge is calculated annually and credited to the City’s 
groundwater credit account.

CAP ALLOCATION
The City has a subcontract for 19,709 afa.  The allocation may be 
used anywhere within the City’s service area, consistent with City 
policy.  The supplies may be delivered from the CAP Aqueduct and 
any location approved by the Central Arizona Water Conservation 
District (CAWCD).  The supply is highly reliable.  However, it is 
likely that some shortages may occur in the future during severe 
droughts on the Colorado River and when the Upper Basin states 
begin to utilize their full entitlements.  

The City has purchased 10 cfs capacity in the SRP–CAP 
interconnect facility.  Therefore, approximately 7,240 afa of CAP 
water may be wheeled through SRP conveyance facilities to City 
facilities.

RECHARGE CREDITS
The City holds approximately 60,000 af of CAP recharge credits.  
These credits were accrued through in-lieu recharge on SRP lands 
by providing SRP with a portion of Peoria’s CAP allocation recharge 
at the Agua Fria Recharge Project and Beardsley Water Reclamation 
Facility.  The credits are available to be recovered through 
groundwater pumping and will help to off-set any groundwater 
use.

CAGRD SERVICE AREA MEMBERSHIP
The City is a service area member of the Central Arizona 
Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD).  Under the current 
contract, the City may incur a minimum CAGRD obligation of 500 
afa beginning in 2001.  For purposes of its AWS application, the 
City showed use of 12,149 af of groundwater use which would 
require replenishment.  The service area membership is subject to 
physical availability of groundwater.  Alternatively, the CAGRD may 
provide direct delivery up to approximately 5,000 afa under 
current State laws and CAGRD commitments.

EFFLUENT
The City produced approximately 9,100 afa (approximately 8.1 
mgd) of effluent in 2002.  This production will increase over time 
as the City’s population increases.  At present, the City has a 
permit to recharge up to 2,470 afa of effluent from the Beardsley 
WRF.  The water may be recovered through groundwater pumping.  
Alternatives for treatment and reuse of wastewater in the southern 
planning area are currently under consideration.

SKUNK CREEK SURFACE WATER APPROPRIATION
The City holds a permit to appropriate surface water from Skunk 
Creek.  The permit is for up to 30,000 afa for municipal uses.  On 
an annual basis, far less than 30,000 afa are available from the 
creek.  Based on limited reconnaissance, the volume of water likely 
available is on the order of 700 to 2,100 afa, based on observed 
flow estimated from one cubic foot per second (cfs) to three cfs.  
The stream reach is currently ungaged, and as a result, it is 
unclear as to the reliable yield from Skunk Creek.

WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM
While not a water supply in the traditional sense, the City water 
conservation program is an important component of the existing 
water resource portfolio of the City.  Water conservation, by 
reducing water demands, can have the same impact as developing 
a new water resource, potentially at a reduced cost compared to 
new supplies.  At present, the City provides educational programs 
to City residents and schools, produces publications, and conducts 
water audits as part of its conservation program.  The conservation 
program provides a mechanism to communicate with the City’s 
customers, a resource to assist customers, and potentially, the 
equivalent of a new water supply.

LAKE PLEASANT
Lake Pleasant is a significant recreational resource for the City.  It 
provides regulatory storage for CAP and conservation storage for 
Maricopa Water District (MWD).  As such, Lake Pleasant is not a 
direct water resource for the City. 

11.c.	  SUMMARY OF EXISTING WATER RESOURCES

INFRASTRUCTURE 
The City currently operates a wide array of water resource 
treatment and production facilities.  These include a water 
treatment plants (WTPs), wells, recharge facilities, recovery wells, 
and wastewater reclamation facilities (WRFs). The facilities are 
discussed below.
WATER TREATMENT PLANTS
The City owns capacity in Glendale’s Pyramid Peak WTP and has 
completed the Greenway WTP.  The City owns capacity in the 
Pyramid Peak WTP which serves CAP water.  The Greenway WTP 
treats SRP water, and in the future, may serve CAP water.  The first 
phase of the plant will have an estimated 17,936 afa (16.0 mgd) of 
capacity.

WELLS
The City uses approximately 24 wells for water production.  In 
addition, SRP has pledged three wells to serve the SRP planning 
area of the City.  In total, the City has approximately 33,000 afa 
(29.5 mgd) of production capacity from existing wells.  The 
production capacity assumes City wells are operating at 75 percent 
of their pumping capacity.  The production wells are also 
permitted as recovery wells for the purpose of pumping recharge 
credits. 
 
RECHARGE FACILITIES
The City has constructed 11.52 acres of spreading basins to 
recharge effluent produced at the Beardsley WWTP.  The basins 
have a capacity to recharge approximately 3,400 afa.  
Approximately 680 af of effluent were recharged in 1999.  At 
present, the City has a permit to recharge up to 2,470 afa from the 
treatment plant.  The permit number for this recharge facility is 
73-551877.  The permit period is September 11, 1996 to 
September 11, 2016.  The City also has a permit for the indirect 
recharge of 40,000 afa of CAP water within the SRP boundaries.  
The permit number is 73-553133.0200, and the permit period is 
July 10, 1996 to December 31, 2005.  The City also recharges CAP 
water at the Central Arizona Project’s Agua Fria Recharge Facility.  
The City anticipates purchasing capacity in this facility.

WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS
The City owns and operates the Beardsley WRF.  The plant has a 
treatment capacity of 4.0 mgd.  Additionally, Peoria also owns 9.4 
mgd of capacity in the Tolleson WWTP. 
11.d.	  GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

The goals, objectives and policies in this section provide the 
fundamental guidance for addressing a water resource issues.  
Policies in this element advocate careful management in order to 
assure an adequate and reliable supply of water resources.

GOAL 
11.1:
MANAGE A COORDINATED SYSTEM OF WATER AND 
WASTEWATER UTILITY SERVICE FACILITIES AND 
RESOURCES TO ADEQUATELY SERVE BUSINESS, 
HOUSING AND OTHER USES.
______________
Objective 11.1.A:	
Enhance and extend public wastewater service including 
collection and treatment systems to urbanized and newly 
developing areas of the City.
___	______________
Policy 11.1.A.1:	
The City shall continuously maintain a Wastewater Master 
Plan and undertake comprehensive revisions on a five-year 
cycle.
__________
Policy 11.1.A.2:	
The Wastewater Master Plan shall support the General Plan.
__________
Policy 11.1.A.3:	
The City shall continue to develop a Wastewater Reuse Plan as 
a component of the Wastewater Master Plan to maximize the 
beneficial use of reclaimed water.
__________
Policy 11.1.A.4:	
The City shall utilize the Wastewater Expansion fee for new 
development as a component of the funding required for the 
Capital Improvement Program.
___	


___	_____________
Objective 11.1.B:	
Satisfy current and future water demands through sustainable 
and renewable water resources for the next 100 years.
___	__________
Policy 11.1.B.1:	
The City shall continuously maintain a Water Resource Master 
Plan and undertake comprehensive revisions on a five-year 
cycle concurrent with the General Plan Update.
___	___________
Policy 11.1.B.2:	
The Water Resource Master Plan shall support the General 
Plan.
___	___________
Policy 11.1.B.3:	
The City shall comply with the provisions of its Assured Water 
Supply designation by the Arizona Department of Water 
Resources.
___	___________
Policy 11.1.B.4:	
The City shall continue its conversion from a primarily 
groundwater-based (non-renewable) supply system to a 
surface water-based (renewable) supply system.
___	___________
Policy 11.1.B.5:	
The City shall continue to pursue the acquisition of additional 
renewable water resources such as groundwater recharge 
programs, reclaimed water, stormwater and various CAP 
allocations.
___	__________
Policy 11.1.B.6:		
The City shall utilize a Water Resource Expansion Fee for new 
development as a component of the funding required for new 
water resources.
___	


______________
Objective 11.1.C:	
Enhance and extend public water service including 
distribution and potable treatment systems in both urbanized 
and newly developing areas of the City.
___	__________
Policy 11.1.C.1:	
The City shall continuously maintain a Water Infrastructure 
Master Plan and undertake comprehensive revisions on a 
five-year cycle. 
___	__________
Policy 11.1.C.2:	
The Water Infrastructure Master Plan shall conform to and 
support the General Plan.
___	__________
Policy 11.1.C.3:	
The City shall continue to meet and exceed the water quality 
requirements of the Clean Water Act and all other regulatory 
requirements.  The City will place a priority on the aesthetic 
quality of the water it produces and delivers.
__________
Policy 11.1.C.4:	
The City shall utilize the Water Expansion Fee for new 
development as a component of the funding required for the 
Capital Improvement Program.
___	__________
Policy 11.1.C.5:	
The City shall continue to build and maintain a water 
distribution system which supports adequate fire suppression 
and enhances life safety and property protection.

11.e.	IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM (STRATEGIES TO INCREASE 
CAPACITY)

This section summarizes the conclusions which have been reached 
as a result of the analysis of the water supplies and demands for 
the City of Peoria.  The strategies the City should pursue in order 
to assure an adequate and reliable supply are identified.  

Conclusions are segregated into those related to water resource 
availability (which takes into account legal and physical availability) 
and those related to infrastructure capacity.  The conclusions are 
based on the following general assumptions:
?	City total per capita water use is approximately 191 gallons 
per day;
?	Average annual population growth rate of four percent over 
the next 25 years;
?	City build out occurs at approximately year 2040; and
?	Water demands within private water companies are not 
included.

WATER RESOURCE AVAILABILITY
Summarized below are the major conclusions and issues relating 
to water resource availability:

1.	SRP water supplies are more than adequate to serve on-
project water demands and impacts from drought.  
However, due to canal dry-up and peaking demands, 
groundwater must be a component of the supply.  At 
present, there is no apparent way to utilize any potential 
excess SRP water to meet water demands in the off-project 
portions of the City.

2.	The City’s current CAP subcontract of 19,709 afa should 
meet the water demands of the off-project portions of the 
City until about year 2010.

3.	Assuming that additional CAP water supplies are secured 
from the reallocation of uncontracted CAP M&I water and 
leasing of CAP water from the Gila River Indian Community 
(GRIC), the City should have sufficient water resource 
supplies to satisfy off-project demands until about year 
2020.
4.	There appears to be sufficient effluent available from the 
City’s WRFs to augment water supplies.  If fully maximized, 
this water resource may provide an additional 10 years’ 
supply.  In order to maximize this resource, analysis of 
recharge/recovery opportunities, as well as opportunities 
for direct deliveries to turfed areas, is necessary.

5.	The CAGRD water supplies are available to provide 
groundwater as a back-up resource.  Due to the high cost 
of replenishment, CAGRD membership should not be used 
unless less expensive alternatives are not available to meet 
demands.  Direct delivery membership may be an 
alternative for lands currently outside the City service area 
that require a supply immediately.

6.	Imported water resources such as non-CAP Colorado River 
water appear to be necessary only if additional CAP water is 
not available.  The imported water resources are the highest 
cost resources currently available to the City.

7.	Long-term groundwater pumping from adjacent cities and 
private water companies may impact the physical availability 
of groundwater in the City as well as recharge and recovery 
plans.  The Utilities Department groundwater monitoring 
plan should be continued and expanded.  A groundwater 
modeling has been undertaken to track changes in the 
groundwater conditions within the City.

8.	Groundwater is not physically available in the northwestern 
portion of the st udy area.  As a result, CAP water must be 
treated and served directly and/or groundwater imported 
from other City areas to meet these demands.

9.	While there is currently abundant groundwater physically 
available under the currently developed portion of the City, 
its legal availability is limited.  Recharge of effluent and CAP 
water will be necessary to use this valuable supply.

10.	Surface water in Skunk Creek may provide a small 
supplemental supply to the City.

INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY
Summarized below are the major conclusions and issues related to 
the infrastructure required for delivery of water to users in the 
City.

1.	Absent additional investment in water resources and 
infrastructure capacity, City water demands will exceed City 
service capacity after 2007, outside of the SRP water 
planning area.

2.	The Greenway WTP is critical in providing treatment capacity 
to serve SRP water directly.

3.	There is currently sufficient well capacity off-project to 
serve more than the legally available supply.  However, as 
recovery of recharge credits occurs along with additional 
growth, new wells will be required to meet water demands.

4.	Wells developed off-project should be located where a 
physically available supply is assured (e.g., adjacent to the 
Agua Fria recharge site).

5.	Additional infrastructure will be required to make use of 
both CAP and effluent supplies.  For CAP supplies, 
consideration must be made to balance recharge/recovery 
and direct use from WTPs.  In some northern portions of the 
City, direct use of CAP supplies will be necessary because 
groundwater availability is limited due to hydrogeologic 
conditions.  Siting additional WTPs should include 
evaluation of hydrogeologic conditions and location of 
demands.

6.	Recharge of either effluent or CAP supplies will be necessary 
to have groundwater capacity to meet peaking demands and 
also to provide redundancy in the system in case of 
emergency or drought.

7.	Evaluation of a Southern Reclamation facility should be 
considered in order to capture wastewater flows in excess 
of what are currently being sent to Tolleson WWTP.  This 
may provide for an additional water resource through 
recharge/recovery or direct use on turf facilities.

STRATEGIES
Strategies have been prepared that, when implemented, should 
provide the City with a reliable, sustainable, and economical 
supply to meet current and future water demands.  The strategies 
are based on a review, in conjunction with Utilities Department 
staff, of the water demands, supplies, and available alternatives.  
In summary, the strategies continue the City’s focus on providing 
renewable water resources balanced with groundwater resources 
and are based on the following underlying concepts: 

?	Locally available, renewable water supplies such as the 
unused portion of the City’s CAP allocation and effluent 
should be developed before imported water resources such 
as non-CAP Colorado River water or imported groundwater;
?	CAGRD membership provides a back-up supply but is more 
expensive than CAP water supplies and effluent; and
?	Additional CAP water available through reallocation and 
GRIC water rights settlements should become available by 
2007.

The strategies will initiate the reuse of effluent primarily through 
recharge and recovery programs, while modifying the existing CAP 
recharge program to include recharge and recovery as a near-and 
mid-term alternative to construction of additional WTP capacity. 
The strategies will require periodic review to determine if they 
remain viable and if they are the most appropriate methods to 
meet the City’s needs and planning goals.  The West Valley Central 
Arizona Project Subcontractors (WESTCAPS) regional planning 
effort may provide alternatives to some of the recommended 
actions included in this plan.  The City should continue to 
participate and/or monitor the WESTCAPS regional planning 
process as long as the regional process contains alternatives that 
are viable for the City.

Summarized below are the strategies that the City should initiate 
or continue in order to assure that adequate water resources are 
available now and in the future.  These activities have been 
segregated into near-term, mid-term, long-term and build-out 
strategies.  The near-term strategy is composed of actions the City 
needs to pursue to assure that economical and adequate resources 
are in place through 2005.  Mid-term strategy is for the period 
ending in 2010.  The long-term strategy is for the period ending 
2025.  The build-out strategy is for full development of the City 
through approximately 2040.  The strategies are designed to 
satisfy regulatory requirements for AWS and to fit with the existing 
regulatory framework.  

NEAR-TERM STRATEGY
The near-term strategy is focused on securing recharge capacity 
(infrastructure) and recharge credits (legal availability of 
groundwater resources) as a bridge from groundwater use to the 
direct delivery of surface water supplies (e.g., CAP and SRP).  The 
recharge components (legal availability and infrastructure) will 
serve to provide groundwater to meet shortages in treatment plant 
capacity, peaking demands, system redundancy, and canal 
outages.

The implementation steps are outlined below:

1.	Complete the Greenway WTP to allow for the direct use of 
SRP surface water.

2.	Use existing groundwater credits (groundwater allowance, 
CAP credits, incidental recharge, and IGFR credit) for 
groundwater pumping until the Greenway WTP is completed 
and delivering SRP water.  This will permit Peoria to avoid 
replenishment obligations to CAGRD.

3.	Secure capacity in the Agua Fria Recharge Project from CAP.  
The ultimate recharge capacity requirement is unknown at 
present due to uncertainties with the future location and 
capacity of CAP WTPs.  However, it is reasonable to assume 
that a minimum of 5,000 afa of recharge capacity will be 
required; an additional 4,500 afa of capacity could be 
necessary.  The 9,500 afa of recharge capacity is equivalent 
to the amount of existing CAP water that is currently not 
being used by the City.  Any capacity secured in the site 
should be available for lease or assignment by the City to a 
third party in order to provide maximum flexibility to the 
City.   

4.	Continue to actively pursue the acquisition of the CAP 
reallocation and lease of the GRIC settlement water.  These 
additional CAP resources are a key component of the City’s 
future renewable water supplies and may provide up to 
12,500 afa.  Apart from effluent, the additional CAP water is 
the most economical renewable resource available.  These 
supplies provide more flexibility in that they can be served 
to areas without groundwater physically available such as 
the northern portions of the City.  In addition, this CAP 
water must be contracted when offered or the opportunity 
will be lost.

5.	Continue to evaluate the feasibility of capturing and 
recharging or directly using effluent in excess of the 
capacity at the Tolleson WWTP as well as directly using or 
recharging surface water from Skunk Creek.

6.	Evaluate and implement programs to improve data 
collection and reporting on water production and water 
delivered and billed to customers.  Obtain updated City data 
that may be used to assess residential and non-residential 
water uses by location.  The billing, water use, and 
population data should be used to re-evaluate the water 
resource strategies.

7.	Continue to pursue water conservation programs in order to 
enlist the public’s assistance in reducing overall water 
demands.  Residential water use may offer the greatest 
opportunity for water demand reductions.

8.	Evaluate expanding the recharge capacity for the Beardsley 
WWTP.  Update and extend the ADWR recharge permit for 
the facility.

9.	Continue to permit service area water supply wells as 
recovery wells.

10.	Evaluate and construct, if feasible, projects which use 
effluent or Skunk Creek water directly to replace 
groundwater as the supply for non-potable uses such as 
lakes, turf facilities at the Sport Complex, golf courses and 
highway landscaping.

12.	Continue and expand a program to monitor and define 
groundwater quantity and quality within the City planning area.

MID-TERM STRATEGY
The mid-term strategy (2006 – 2010) focuses on implementation 
of recharge and recovery opportunities and extending the City’s 
Designation of AWS.  During this time period, the planning and 
development of WTPs may be necessary for northern portions of 
the City where groundwater is not available. The implementation 
steps are outlined below.

1.	Recharge CAP water at the Agua Fria recharge facility in 
order to maintain a reserve of groundwater credits.  The 
City should maintain a minimum groundwater credit balance 
of 40,000 af which is equal to 50 percent of the maximum 
year City water demand.  Undertake reliability evaluations in 
order to determine an appropriate quantity to be reserved.

2.	Continue to recharge and directly use effluent to develop 
groundwater credits and allow for long-term supplies and 
groundwater pumping to firm supplies and meet peaking 
demands.

3.	Continue the groundwater quantity and quality monitoring 
program initiated in the earlier strategy.  Water quantity and 
quality trends should be used to update or modify water 
resource strategies.

4.	If they become available, evaluate the feasibility or purchase 
of low priority CAP supplies (non-Indian agricultural priority 
water).

5.	Evaluate participation in Arizona Water Banking Authority 
(AWBA)/CAP groundwater recovery programs if the City 
continues to have groundwater available and if the impacts 
of Agua Fria recharge activities support participation.

6.	Assess whether the CAP-SRP interconnect capacity (10 cfs) 
is necessary to meet City water supply goals.  If the capacity 
is not necessary, evaluate alternative uses for the capacity 
such as developing Salt River resources for use in the 
northern City water planning areas.

7.	Develop infrastructure that is compatible with the available 
water resources and location of water demands.  Evaluate 
the location and timing of construction of a treatment plant 
for CAP water to serve the northern service areas of the City.  
These areas have limited quantities of groundwater 
available and may require direct delivery of CAP water for 
long-term reliability.

8.	Develop the Skunk Creek surface water supply to perfect the 
surface water right.

9.	Update the water resources plan in support of extending the 
City’s Designation of AWS.  The population data should be 
updated based on the mid-term census update of 2005.  
City water use and billing data should be re-evaluated to 
analyze water use assumptions and conservation programs.

LONG-TERM STRATEGY
The long-term strategy (2011–2025) continues the focus on 
investment in renewable supplies.  In addition, the strategy begins 
evaluation of potential imported supplies if City population growth 
continues at present (2000) rates.  
  
1.	Evaluate need for imported supplies.  Population data from 
the 2010 census should be evaluated along with population 
growth rate projections and City water use trends.  If the 
growth rates and water use trends indicate that the build-
out projections used in the 2000 water resources plan will 
be exceeded, imported water supplies must be considered.

2.	Continue evaluation of need for WTPs to serve the northern 
areas of the City that lack groundwater availability.

3.	Participate in development and implementation of CAP 
wheeling policies.  These policies will be the likely 
mechanism to import additional water supplies.

4.	Participate in the development of additional groundwater 
management rules and regulations.  The goal of safe yield is 
supposed to be met by 2025.  It is likely that to meet that 
goal, additional regulations may be developed.  City staff 
should continue to participate in these issues.

5.	Continue the groundwater quantity and quality monitoring 
program initiated in the earlier strategy.  Water quantity and 
quality trends should be used to update or modify water 
resource strategies. 

BUILD-OUT STRATEGY
The build-out strategy (2026–2040) shifts toward monitoring and 
maintenance of the City’s resources unless additional growth is 
anticipated.  If additional growth is projected, then imported 
supplies must be secured in this time frame. 

1.	Evaluate need for imported supplies.  Population data from 
the 2020 census and 2025 mid-term census should be 
evaluated along with population growth rate projections and 
City water use trends.  If the growth rates and water use 
trends indicate that the build-out projections used in the 
2000 water resources plan will be exceeded, imported water 
supplies must be considered.

2.	Continue the groundwater quantity and quality monitoring 
program initiated in the earlier strategy.  Water quantity and 
quality trends should be used to update or modify water 
resource strategies.

11.f.	IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM

The Implementation Program for the Water Resources Element of 
the Peoria General Plan is presented in Table 11-1, Water 
Implementation Program.  The table is presented under the 
following four headings:

Implementation Measure	Lists the action necessary to carry out 
the Water Resources Element of the 
General Plan.

Lead Department/Agency	Identifies the responsible City 
department of for accomplishing that 
particular measure.

Projected Timeframe	Identifies and prioritizes the timeframe 
for the measure to be initiated.

Potential Resources	Lists the potential funding, City staff, 
volunteer or other community resource 
necessary to 	carry out the 
implementation action.




						TABLE 11-1
				     WATER IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM

Implementation 
Measure
Lead 
Department / 
Agency
Projected
Timeframe 
(Years)
Potential 
Funding
Sources
1.	Use existing groundwater 
credits.
Utilities
0-5
?	Water 
Operations 
Funds
2.	Secure capacity in the Agua Fria 
Recharge Project from the CAP.
Utilities
0-5
?	Water 
Operations 
Funds
?	Development  
Impact Fees
3.	Continue to actively pursue the 
acquisition of the CAP 
reallocation and lease of the 
GRIC settlement water.
Utilities
0-5
?	Water 
Operations 
Funds
4.	Continue to evaluate the 
feasibility of capturing and 
recharging or directly using 
effluent in excess of the 
capacity at the Tolleson WWTP.
Utilities
0-5
?	Water and 
Wastewater 
Operations 
Funds
5.	Evaluate and implement 
programs to improve data 
collection and reporting on 
water production and water 
delivered and billed to 
customers.
Utilities
0-5
?	Water 
Operations 
Funds
6.	Continue to pursue water 
conservation programs to enlist 
the public’s assistance in 
reducing overall water 
demands.
Utilities
0-5
?	Water 
Operations 
Funds


TABLE 11-1
WATER IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM
(CONTINUED)

Implementation 
Measure
Lead 
Department/
Agency
Projected
Timeframe 
(Years)
Potential 
Funding
Sources
7.	Evaluate expanding the 
recharge capacity for the 
Beardsley WRF.
Utilities
0-5
?	Development 
Impact Fees
?	Wastewater 
Operations 
Funds
8.	Permit service area water 
supply wells as recovery wells.
Utilities
0-5
?	Water 
Operations  
Funds
9.  Evaluate and construct, if 
feasible, projects which use 
effluent or Skunk Creek water 
directly to replace groundwater 
as the supply for non-potable 
uses.
Utilities
0-5
?	Development 
Impact Fees
?	Water 
Operations 
Fund
10. Recharge CAP water at the 
Agua Fria recharge facility in 
order to maintain a reserve of 
groundwater credits.
Utilities
6-10
?	Water 
Operations 
Funds
?	Development 
Impact Fees
11. Continue to recharge and 
directly use effluent to develop 
groundwater credits and allow 
for long-term supplies.
Utilities
6-10
?	Development 
Impact Fees
?	Water / 
Wastewater 
Operating 
Fees
12. Continue the groundwater 
quantity and quality monitoring 
program initiated in the earlier 
strategy.
Utilities
6-10
?	Water 
Operations 
Funds


TABLE 11-1
WATER IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM
(CONTINUED)

Implementation
Measure
Lead 
Department/
Agency
Projected
Timeframe 
(Years)
Potential 
Funding
Sources
13. If they become available, 
evaluate the feasibility or 
purchase of low priority CAP 
supplies.
Utilities
6-10
?	Water 
Operations 
Funds
?	Development 
Impact Fees
14. Evaluate participation in 
Arizona Water Banking 
Authority (AWBA)/CAP 
groundwater recovery 
programs / if the City 
continues to have groundwater 
available and if the impacts of 
Agua Fria recharge activities 
support participation.
Utilities
6-10
?	Water 
Operations 
Funds
15. Assess whether the CAP-SRP 
interconnect capacity (10 cfs) 
is necessary to meet City water 
supply goals.
Utilities
6-10
?	Water 
Operations 
Funds
16. Develop infrastructure that is 
compatible with the available 
water resources and location 
of water demands. 
Utilities
6-10
?	Development 
Impact Fees
17. Develop the Skunk Creek 
surface water supply to perfect 
the surface water right.
Utilities
6-10
?	Development 
Impact Fees
?	Water 
Operations 
Funds
18. Update the water resources 
plan in support of extending 
the City’s Designation of AWS.
Utilities
6-10
?	Development 
Impact Fees
?	Water 
Operations 
Funds


TABLE 11-1
WATER IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM
      (CONTINUED)
Implementation
Measure
Lead 
Department/
Agency
Projected
Timeframe 
(Years)
Potential 
Funding
Sources
19. Evaluate need for imported 
supplies.
Utilities
10-25
?	Water 
Operations 
Funds
20. Continue evaluation of need 
for WTPs to serve the northern 
areas of the City that lack 
groundwater availability.
Utilities
10-25
?	Water 
Operations 
Funds
?	Development 
Impact Fees
21. Participate in development 
and implementation of CAP 
wheeling policies.
Utilities
10-25
?	Water 
Operations 
Funds
22. Participate in the development 
of additional groundwater 
management rules and 
regulations.		
Utilities
10-25
?	Water 
Operations 
Funds
23. Continue the groundwater 
quantity and quality 
monitoring program initiated 
in the earlier strategy.
Utilities
10-25
?	Water 
Operations 
Funds
24. Evaluate need for imported 
supplies.
Utilities
26-40
?	Water 
Operations 
Funds
25. Continue the groundwater 
quantity and quality monitoring 
program initiated in the earlier 
strategy.
Utilities
26-40
?	Water 
Operations 
Funds
Source: City of Peoria, 2001; Amended 2003

The Planning and Zoning Commission should review and provide 
recommendations to the City Council for revisions to the 
Implementation Program on an annual basis in order to continue 
to pursue implementation of the Peoria General Plan.  The Director 
of the Community Development Department and staff persons 
responsible for the General Plan implementation should monitor 
the status of each implementation action throughout the year and 
provide a general recommended framework to the Planning and 
Zoning Commission for annually updating the General Plan’s 
Implementation Program.

11. WATER RESOURCES ELEMENT

		PEORIA GENERAL PLAN
		PEORIA, ARIZONA
	11-26
11. WATER RESOURCES ELEMENT

		PEORIA GENERAL PLAN
		PEORIA, ARIZONA
	11-1