Water Plans

Tucson Water updates it’s long range and/or master plan about every ten years. One Water 2100 is the current master planning effort. The first phase included an existing conditions analysis. That analysis produced a series of technical memos:

• Climate change projections
• Conservation projections
• Land use projections
• Population projections
• Water use projections
• Scenario planning
• Benefits and costs of reclaimed water
• Water quality
• Greenhouse gas emissions inventory

We are currently conducting a community engagement campaign to support the development of the One Water 2100 master plan. Please visit tucsononewater.com/get-involved/ to help shape our water future. When Mayor and Council approves One Water 2100, it will replace Water Plan: 2000 - 2050.

Water Plan: 2000 – 2050 was written in 2004 with updates in 2008 and 2012. This plan laid out the challenges and opportunities to ensuring a secure water future for our community. Below are links to the entire document and its individual chapters and articles.

There is also a brief overview of the Long Range Plan with projections about current and future water needs and the water supplies available to meet a growing demand. The overview references critical decisions that our community must make and Tucson Water's recommendations to ensure high quality water while protecting environment and quality of life.

Tucson Water also published a 2008 update and a 2012 update to its original 2004 Plan.

Download the entire Water Plan PDF file or download individual chapters and articles below as smaller individual PDF files.

If you have feedback, comments, or questions, e-mail Tucson Water's Public Information / Conservation Office (PICO).

Water Plan: 2000-2050

Table of Contents

• Cover
• Acknowledgements
• Executive Summary
• Table of Contents
• List of Acronyms
• Chapter One: Introduction
  • Geographic Setting
  • The Planning Goals
  • The Planning Process
  • Contents of the Report
• Chapter Two: A Community Creates a Demand
  • Prior to 1880: Life Along the Santa Cruz River
  • Post-1880 to World War II: A Lessening Stream
  • World War II to 2000: The Community Expands
  • Planning for a Sustainable Future
• Chapter Three: Projections of Population and Water Demand
  • Long-Range Planning Area
  • Projections of Population
  • Per Capita Water Usage Rates
  • Projections of Total Water Demand
  • External Factors That Can Affect Future Demand
  • Demand Management
  • The Role of Projected Demand in Water Planning
• Chapter Four: Available Water Resources
  • The Assured Water Supply Program
  • Ground Water
  • Colorado River Water
  • Effluent
  • Summary
• Chapter Five: Water Delivery Systems
  • Existing Water Systems
  • Identifying Potable and Reclaimed System Needs
  • Putting the Planning Pieces Together
• Chapter Six: The Planning Process
  • Integrated Resource-Planning Components
  • Plan Development Process
  • Scenario Planning for Water Plan: 2000-2050
  • Combining the Scenario Planning Assessments
  • Pathways to 2050
• Chapter Seven: The Recommended Plan
  • Common Elements and Critical Decisions
  • Plan Recommendations
  • Costs
  • Summary
• Chapter Eight: Future Issues and Challenges
  • Legal/Regulatory Issues
  • Public Acceptance of Renewable Sources of Supply
  • Resource Management Issues
  • Jurisdictional Issues
  • Beyond 2050
• References
• Glossary
• Appendices
  • A. Other Water Users in the Region
  • B. Demand Management Program Development
  • C. Assured Water Supply Implementation
  • D. Planning Methodology
  • E. Federal, State, and Local Regulations and Policies
  • F. Cost Information
• Plate 1
  • Recommended Plan Summary
  • Recommended Plan Summary
• List of Tables
  • 3-1. Population Counts and Projections for Water Plan: 2000-2050
  • 3-2. Comparison of Single-Family Residential Water Usage
  • 4-1. Central Arizona Project Allocations in the Tucson AMA (Acre Feet)
  • 4-2. Local Effluent Entitlements in 2003
  • 5-1. Projected Potable System Expansion Costs in 2030 and 2050 (current dollars)
  • 6-1. Pathways to 2050 – Schedule of Projects
  • 6-2. Ratings of Pathways to 2050
  • 7-1. Cost Comparisons
  • 7-2. Meeting the Planning Goals
• List of Figures
  • 1-1. Map of the Greater Tucson Area
  • 1-2. Plan Development Sequence
  • 2-1. Boundary of the Tucson Active Management Area
  • 2-2. Historical Water Use in the Tucson AMA by Sector: 1941-2000
  • 2-3. Total Water Production by Municipal Water Providers in the Tucson AMA in 2000
  • 3-1. Long-Range Planning Area
  • 3-2. Population Projections from 2000 to 2050
  • 3-3. Tucson Water Service Area Population Distribution in 2000
  • 3-4. Tucson Water Service Area Population Distribution in 2030
  • 3-5. Tucson Water’s Projected Total Annual Water Demand from 2000-2050
  • 3-6. Potable Water Demand for Tucson Water’s Service Area, 2000
  • 3-7. Projected Potable Water Demand for Tucson Water’s Service Area, 2030
  • 4-1. The Central Arizona Project Aqueduct
  • 4-2. Existing and Proposed Clearwater Program Facilities
  • 4-3. Projected Demand and Available Sustainable Water Resources, 2000-2050
  • 5-1. Tucson Water’s Well Fields
  • 5-2. Tucson Water’s Potable Distribution System as of 2000
  • 5-3. Tucson Water’s Reclaimed Distribution Pipeline System in 2000
  • 5-4. Sources of Supply to the Reclaimed Water System
  • 5-5. Potential Expansions of Tucson Water’s Potable System through 2050
  • 6-1. The One-Dimensional Planning Approach
  • 6-2. The Scenario Planning Approach
  • 6-3. The Four Scenario Planning Futures Developed for the Clearwater Program
  • 6-4. Clearwater Program Common Elements and Pathways
  • 6-5. The Eight Scenario Planning Futures Developed for Possible Effluent Reuse
  • 6-6. The Sets of Common Elements for Effluent Reuse
  • 6-7. The Families of Futures
  • 6-8. Pathways to the Families of Futures
  • 7-1. Projected Total Demand and Use of Resources for the Recommended Plan