Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano promotes a “culture of conservation” for all citizens of Arizona. Conservation helps us achieve our long-term goal of reducing water use to protect our water supplies today and in the future. One way Peoria is encouraging a culture of conservation is by using reclaimed water.

A park irrigated with reclaimed water in northern Peoria

Reclaimed Water – Water reclamation, also known as water reuse or water recycling, is the collection and treatment of wastewater from homes and businesses to be utilized where potable (drinking-quality) water is not required. Reclaimed water can be used for landscape irrigation, decorative water features, and in various industrial processes.

The use of reclaimed water conserves drinking-quality water and may also delay costly expansion of water treatment facilities, which means lower water rates for City water customers. In addition, reclaimed water provides a readily available and reliable source of water, even during times of shortage, like a drought. Reclaimed water supplies also will increase as population increases.

Photo courtesy of City of Chandler, AZ

Treatment and Safety – Using state-of-the-art treatment and disinfection technologies, a water reclamation facility removes harmful substances from wastewater. Monitoring and testing are routinely performed to ensure the quality of reclaimed water is compliant with all regulations. As with drinking water, the quality of reclaimed water is regulated by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department. While reclaimed water is not intended for drinking or swimming, it is completely safe to use for irrigation in parks and common areas. The water is treated to the highest water quality criteria established by ADEQ so that contact or accidental ingestion poses no significant concern for humans or animals.

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