4.3.2.c Local Utilities Discussion

Reduction of water providers

The variety of water service providers throughout the Surprise Planning Area creates an issue for the city and its residents. Each provider has a different standard on their level of service. All providers meet the minimum standard for water set forth, but the city desires a higher standard for its residents. This can create confusion as most people believe all water to be provided by their city. To eliminate the reduction of water standards and confusion as to who provides the water, the city should work to acquire other water providers and not allow new water providers into the area.  

Acquiring other water providers creates an issue for the city as water systems between the city of Surprise and other water service providers may not be compatible. In some cases water pipes must be upgraded before an acquired water provider can be linked in with the city system and provide residents a level of service that is standard throughout the entire city. Without the upgrade, the higher pressure from the city utility may cause pipes to burst requiring immediate attention and loss of service to the public.

Location

Water well sites must be provided for the city to grow. Typically, sites are provided by the developer to supply the neighborhood being built. With proper planning these sites can provide for an expanded area requiring fewer well sites to be constructed, although they may be larger, and reducing maintenance burdens on the water provider. Well sites must also consider where to locate based on water levels and the quality of the water. The Surprise Planning Area has several locations that may require additional arsenic treatment that may increase the size and cost of a potential well site.

Economic Development

For many smaller companies and businesses the development of utilities is not something they are knowledgeable about or prepared for. By providing utilities to vacant lots the city can remove one of the fears corporations or developers locating in the city may have.

Some companies and employers require a larger amount of water provided to their location. To target locations for economic development, the city should upgrade or provide water service prior to development. By providing the needed water supply, a potential company is guaranteed the utility is provided and may assist in the process of selecting Surprise as a location over other cities locally, nationally, and world wide. The creation of high capacity water lines can also aid in the development of potential economic development or an employment park. By combining the desires of large 

companies (large tracts of land, water, power) into one location it makes Surprise a more attractive place to locate a new business.

Reclaimed Water

To conserve water, the city of Surprise is working on a reclaimed water system. By using reclaimed water to water lawns, parks, and supply lakes, the water can be returned slowly to the water table and will reduce the amount of water that must be pulled out of the tables through wells.

Sizing Infrastructure

With infill development in older parts of the city, there will be a need to resize sewer pipes to carry an increased capacity to handle higher densities of development. In areas of the city that are experiencing new growth, sewer lines should be sized to handle more than the expected capacity to reduce the need for resizing at a later date.

Preserving Washes

As cities in the region have developed over time using onsite water retention, the area washes are slowly drying up. By retaining the water on site, the amount of water that has traditionally flowed though the washes has been reduced. By reducing this water amount, we are reducing the amount of plants and wildlife that can be sustained by the washes. By returning some amount of water back into the washes, the city can protect both property from flood hazards and prevent the washes from drying out.

Urban Areas

To create more urbanized areas within the city it will become necessary to retain water off site. The density required to build an urban area does not allow for above ground retention of water. Underground retention of the water becomes difficult when it comes time to dig up a street or parking lot to repair the retention. Storm drains can easily direct the flow of the water to a master retention area or return the water to washes to protect multiple properties from flooding hazards.

Location

Planning and integrating utility stations and the larger power lines must be a combined effort between the city and APS. Power line locations are planned first with the Arizona Corporation Commission which provides a large corridor (not an exact route) in which the power line route may be placed. The Corporation Commission looks at the need of the power line and other possible routes (through large corridors). Once the corridor is decided upon, the city can work with APS to aid in providing rights-of-way or easements to minimize the effect the power lines will have on access and visibility.

Environment: Peak hour consumption  

One of the immediate ways to save fossil fuels used for generating energy is by changing personal energy use to off-peak hours. APS recommends running appliances such as washers and dryers during these off-peak hours. By reducing the energy use during peak hours, APS can reduce the amount of time combustion generators must be used to cover the excess energy requirements. These generators only operate to cover peak energy loads, and so by reducing personal use, the fuel use for these generators can be reduced. The city of Surprise can lead by example, and partner with APS for more awareness of this issue.

Creation of renewable energy plants

Renewable energy in the form of solar, wind, and water power is the direction being taken by many power providers to become more environmentally friendly and reduce United States dependence on fossil fuels. With its constant sun, Arizona is a prime location to develop solar power. The largest issue with developing solar energy is the initial cost of the infrastructure and the amount of land needed to provide enough energy to make the project feasible. The city of Surprise can work with APS to reserve locations for future solar or other power plants.

Economic Development

Just like water, power is a utility that large companies desire before they locate to a city. To aid in the development of large vacant lots or the creation of an employment park the city of Surprise should work with APS to site local power plants or substations as needed to provide for the potential energy needs of these future companies.

Cell Tower Location

As growth occurs, more cell towers will be required throughout the city and planning area. To minimize the visual impact and number of towers, the city can work with cell providers to co-locate on existing towers and plan in advance for siting new towers. 

Economic Development

Without a telecommunications network that can handle the computer and phone traffic required by a large company the city of Surprise will not be able to attract corporations to our city. Companies today look for communications networks not only for their immediate needs where they locate, but also for wireless services around the area for potential telecommuters and meetings outside of the office. The city can assist in attracting business by reviewing the latest technologies and determining what should be pursued. The city can also partner with communications providers to build needed infrastructure.

Economic Development

To take advantage of the benefits provided by technology infrastructure the city must become a leader in its development and deployment. This will be accomplished by mobilizing both public and private sector investment to develop programs and incentives to create the technology that is in demand. This will bring employers and can create opportunities for other technology related development in the form of technology education, retailers, and service providers. The business and investors that will create and locate in Surprise will look not only at how technology can enhance their business, but how technology will improve the quality of life of their employees.

Quality of Life  

Technology today improves the quality of life of everyone by connecting people, providing information, and making lives easier. The advent of cell phones has made it easier for people to stay in touch with friends and family no matter where they are in the city. By improving on this technology and working to place infrastructure for more communication technology the residents of Surprise will be able to collaborate with each other, businesses, and the city through phones, computers, and the next new technology, no matter where they are in the city. This same network can provide people with information about events in the city, warnings of road closures, detours, and emergency information. Technology not only will be able to provide better communication, but technology built into city systems such as streets will be able to provide real time data to allow for a smoother commute to work or immediately report traffic accidents. Finally technology placed in homes and businesses can be used to make life easier by providing better mobility for individuals with disabilities, increasing safety through fire prevention systems, and reducing crime with better monitoring systems.

Scallop Streets

Scallop streets are roads that change the number of available lanes, often reducing to one or two lanes for several miles and then returning to a wider roadway. This occurs when only half the street is built by the developer of a property. This presents many issues for the city in the form of traffic flow, street maintenance, and timing of street construction. The reduction of lanes is not only an annoyance to the motorist; it also reduces the capacity of the street in the same manner a funnel reduces water flow. With the increased traffic on the few existing lanes the street will wear faster than normal and require more frequent maintenance. To resolve the issue the city can wait for a developer to build the neighboring parcel or build the road with municipal funds. If the road is built with city funding, methods of repayment should be considered. 

Longer Street Life

To prolong the life and reduce maintenance costs on streets, the city should review construction methods and techniques. This can potentially be done through seal methods, initial construction practices, and new surfaces such as rubberized asphalt. These initial construction practices and maintenance techniques can also be carried over to private streets to help reduce maintenance costs and the potential for future hazards when roads are not maintained.

Landfill Lifespan  

On average, Surprise produces approximately 365,000 tons of waste every year. With a capacity of 92,000,000 tons, northwest regional landfill has sufficient volume to serve Surprise until 2043.

To promote the lifespan of the landfill the city should educate residents to increase recycling and lower the amount of waste deposited in the landfill. By reducing the recyclable waste the landfill can use the extra space for waste that cannot be recycled. 

Recycling

Recycling not only reduces the solid waste taken to landfills, but provides a source of raw materials for companies that can use it without using natural resources like trees. Surprise annually contributes 7,000 tons of recyclable waste which is only about 2% of the total solid waste generated. Currently Surprise only offers the curbside recycling program. Since increasing recycling is a major goal for the City Surprise is looking at the possibility of drop-off sites as well.  

Expansion of Service

The collection routes are currently managed through manpower, vehicles, and number of routes that can be accomplished on different days. With future development, the city of Surprise will need to expand its fleet of collection vehicles and manpower to allow for more routes.