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July 22, 2022 / Volume 10, Issue 5
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IN THIS ISSUE: Reflections, AACD, ADEQ, APW, Online Resources, Tucson Water
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Reflections: On Key Themes from the WRRC's 20th Annual Conference
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The Water Resources Research Center’s annual conference, Arizona’s Agricultural Outlook: Water, Climate, and Sustainability, was held July 12–14, 2022. This conference marked the 20th anniversary of our signature event, which is designed to share up-to-date information and insights on a water topic of importance to Arizona and the region. Though topics and locations have varied, the constant has been a conference program that offers a broad view to a broadly based audience.
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Arizona Water Law Conference
Date: Aug 11-12, 2022
6333 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85250
Join over 100 of your colleagues at the 30th Annual Arizona Water Law SuperConference! A faculty of expert attorneys, along with consultants, environmentalists, government officials, and tribal representatives will gather together to discuss critical current water issues. You won't want to miss a minute of the engaging discussions and valuable networking opportunities.
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Upcoming Events
Aug 30: WRRC Brown Bag Webinar: Rio Reimagined: Reconnecting the Salt River with the Valley's Metropolitan Communities
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WRRC Participates in AACD Annual Conference
The Arizona Association of Conservation Districts (AACD) Annual Conference will be held on August 4–5 in downtown Phoenix, kicking off the first day of panels with a discussion of “Water Limitations and How They Impact Us.” Moderated by Sarah Porter of ASU Kyl Center for Water Policy, the panel will include WRRC Water RAPIDS Program Director Ashley Hullinger, Tom Davis (Agribusiness Water Council), Stefanie Smallhouse (Redington NRCD & Arizona Farm Bureau), and Kim Schonek (The Nature Conservancy). With the goal of supporting the efforts of Arizona’s Conservation Districts, AACD convenes their annual conference to present useful information about hot topics that impact their stakeholders. The WRRC is pleased to support the AACD in providing water resources information and building a greater understanding of this valuable resource throughout the state.
Image: AACD
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Legislature Authorizes Potable Reuse Program
As we reported previously, Arizona House Bill 2129, approved in the recently completed legislative session, prompted the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to plan for the development of permanent standards and regulations for direct potable reuse (DPR) of ultra-treated reclaimed water. According to the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, “utilizing … recycled water to its full potential is a critical water augmentation strategy – it provides a safe, locally controlled, drought-proof water supply that can be available far sooner than … water importation options.” HB 2129 stated, “on or before December 31, 2024, the Director shall adopt all rules necessary to establish and implement a direct potable reuse of treated water program including, but not limited to, rules establishing permitting standards and a permit application process.” In addition, it appropriated $1,500,000 in each of fiscal years 2022/23 and 2023/24 for ADEQ to plan, implement, and operate the DPR program. The agency will hold a series of stakeholder meetings to help “address minimum performance requirements, source control, design elements to prevent contamination of the water supply, operator qualifications and training, technical, managerial, and financial requirements, uniform terminology, and other issues.” The public is invited to participate, online and by phone, in the upcoming stakeholder meeting to be held Thursday, July 28, 2022, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.
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Arizona Project WET Announces New Forest Investigations Activity Center!
Our forests are beautiful places where we can experience the richness of nature. They provide us with lumber, and they protect our water and air. Some say that the forests are the lungs of the Earth. But today's forests also encounter many wildfires and challenges that lead to poor health. Why does this happen, and what can we do about it? The answers are IN the forest.
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New Interactive Online Water Resources
The Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) have both recently released interactive online resources that may be of interest to water experts and members of the public alike. As part of their Assured and Adequate Water Supply programs, ADWR developed an interactive map that allows users to “find issued determinations, existing and approved demand volumes, water providers, registered wells, and recharge facilities.” Users can choose from several base maps — satellite imagery, simple road maps, topographic maps, etc. — and then toggle visibility on or off for more than a dozen layers featuring various types of water infrastructure, such as wells and underground storage facilities, and natural or man-made boundaries, such as groundwater subbasins and county lines.
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Tucson Water Updates Rebate Program
As of July 1, 2022, Tucson Water has updated their rebate program policies “to maximize water savings and encourage customers to consider additional ways to save water.” Customers can now submit applications online for rebates on qualifying premium high-efficiency toilet and front-loading clothes washer purchases. All purchases made on or after July 1 are eligible under the new policies. The rebate for toilets has been increased from $75 to $100 and is available for homes built prior to 2011. New toilet purchases “must be WaterSense certified, flush no more than 1.1 gallons, and receive high flush performance scores” to qualify. Single-family households are eligible for two premium high-efficiency toilet rebates per property, while commercial/multifamily customers may receive two toilet rebates per unit. Due to a significant difference in water savings when purchasing a qualifying new front-loading clothes washer to replace a top-loading washer (85% water savings) versus replacing an older front-loading washer (15% water savings), Tucson Water has modified their rebate for clothes washers. Customers replacing a top-loader are eligible for a $200 rebate, while customers replacing a front-loader are eligible for a rebate of $100. Single-family homes are eligible for one clothes washer rebate per customer, while commercial/multifamily customers may qualify for a custom rebate. Learn more or apply for a rebate on the Tucson Water website. Customers with questions are encouraged to email pico@tucsonaz.gov or call (520) 791-4331.
Image: Tucson Water
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Please visit WRRC's website for a complete listing of water jobs & opportunities.
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Petersen, Nancy, Karletta Chief, Toni M. Massaro, Nikki Tulley, Crystal Tulley-Cordova, and Jonelle Vold. “Respectful Tribal Partnership: What Philanthropy Can Learn From the Navajo Nation’s Collaborative Response to the COVID-19 Crisis.” The Foundation Review 14, no. 2 (2022). https://doi.org/10.9707/1944-5660.1611
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AZPM Tapped Podcast: The stories of people living with the cost of drought in the Southwest, and what we can do to mitigate it.
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WRRC 2022 Arroyo: Water Resilience - Indigenous Perspectives McGreal, Brian and Susanna Eden, with Taylor McHugh. "Water Resilience - Indigenous Perspectives." Arroyo. Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center, 2022.
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Arizona Water Blueprint is holding Office Hours to teach new Arizona Water Blueprint skills and answer questions! More Info
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Arizona Water Protection Fund Accepting Applications for Fiscal Year 2023 Grant Cycle. Deadline to submit applications: August 26, 2022 at 5:00pm. More Info
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Surface Water Protection Program (SWPP) Draft Rule is now available for review on the ADEQ website. More Info
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Do you have a story idea, water job announcement, or event to share?
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