Water
Residents, help craft OV's goals, policies and actions by completing the steps below:
- Please read through the resident guidance HERE and background information about the Town's water resources and use HERE.
- Respond to the discussion questions listed at the bottom of the screen by noon on Wednesday, April 30. You must be registered on this website to add your response. Instructions to register are available HERE.
- Please RSVP to the meeting HERE.
- Attend and participate in the online meeting below.
Additional information, including residents' verbatim responses are linked to the right. Depending on your device, these links may also be at the bottom of the screen.
| Meeting Date and Time: Thursday, May 1 from 5:30-7:30 PM
Meeting ID: 889 1811 2885 Passcode: 716520 Phone option: +1 669 900 6833Questions? Contact OVPathForward@orovalleyaz.gov |
The OV's Path Forward Background Report, available HERE, provides key trends and conditions that should be considered when planning for OV's future.
- Oro Valley (OV) has reduced groundwater pumping to historic lows. Since 2005, groundwater pumping has been reduced by over 50%. Groundwater pumping has been offset through Central Arizona Project (CAP) water deliveries and use of reclaimed water for turf irrigation. OV should continue to reduce its reliance on groundwater by increasing the deliveries of other water resources such as CAP and reclaimed water.
The Colorado River is over allocated so reductions in its use will be required from all its users. OV has anticipated and planned for a 25% reduction to its CAP water allocation. Approximately 25% of OV’s CAP allocation is not delivered and is stored in nearby underground aquifer storage facilities for future use, if needed. This stored water is referred to as Long Term Storage Credits (LTSC’s). A 25% reduction to OV’s CAP allocation is sustainable but could limit OV’s annexation growth potential without changing how OV manages its water resources.
Water conservation measures are required with all new developments. Residents and business owners are further encouraged to make small changes to reduce their use of potable (drinking) water. Ongoing education and awareness about water consumption by using best practices as well as new water consumption monitoring technologies is needed.
Reclaimed water is another resource the Town uses to reduce use of potable water. Reclaimed water is used for turf irrigation at some of OV’s golf courses, street sweeping, construction and other non-potable uses.
During Phase 1 (October 2023 - October 2024), residents shared their ideas, priorities and expectations for OV's future through the BIG Community Survey, 93 events, and online discussions. The phone survey method is statistically projectable to all OV adults. This means 50% represents 20,593 residents.
The percentages represent responses to various question types. Higher percentages relate to questions where residents rated specific options. Low percentages relate to open-ended questions that allowed a wide variety of responses.
A summary of resident responses is available HERE with key points shown below:
| Statistically Projectable Survey Responses | Common Phrases from Events and Online | |
| Concerns | 68% think OV's biggest challenge will be maintaining water availability | Maintaining water supply, use of water resources, growth and water capacity |
| Priorities | 78% prioritized increasing community resources about water conservation | |
| 57% prioritized expanding water conservation programs | Use of potable water, drinking water going to the wrong areas | |
| 66% prioritized reducing the consumption of drinking (potable) water by increasing requirements for new developments 63% prioritized reducing the consumption of drinking (potable) water for irrigation | ||
| 55% prioritized expanding use of reclaimed water | Reclaimed water for irrigation, new ways to use reclaimed water | |
The draft guiding principles are based on the community guidance provided during Phase 1. Underlined words were derived directly from resident responses.
Ensure water availability:
- Continue planning for a reliable water future
- Increase community awareness of the importance of water conservation
- Expand water conservation programs, opportunities, and requirements
- Reduce the use of drinking water for irrigation
- Expand the use of reclaimed water
Water resources and conservation are both resident focus areas and legal requirements in the 10-year action plan.
Please respond to the 6 discussion questions below by noon on Wednesday, April 30. Please be succinct as your responses will be added to a virtual whiteboard. You will have an opportunity to expand upon or add responses during the online meeting on May 1, 2025.
You can quickly add your response by clicking on "quick reply" or read through other people's response and add your own by clicking on the question. If you have any trouble registered or responding the questions, please contact OVPathForward@orovalleyaz.gov.
