6.3.2.a Water Resources Discussion

Water supply within the city is one of the key factors for maintaining sustainable growth and allowing the city to achieve its development goals. One of the important goals of the community is the attainment of safe yield, when no more water is withdrawn from the aquifer than is replenished. New water supplies and a community-wide emphasis on conservation are needed to achieve this goal. While arrival of water from the Central Arizona Project (CAP) will provide a new water resource, maintenance of a dependable supply of good quality groundwater will continue to be an essential factor in defining Surprise’s future health and prosperity. There are properties within the Surprise Planning Area that are not presently served by city water or city sewer systems. Some of these properties are served by private water service providers. Some of the properties are not served by either the city or private water service providers. The general plan is intended to govern the provision of city water and sewer services within the general planning area.

Water Rights

The city has received rights to groundwater through the extinguishment of irrigation grandfathered rights. As a water service provider the city may also claim four per cent of the annual water delivered to its customers as incidental recharge. The city has an agreement with Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD) that allows for pumping of excess groundwater and the associated recharge provided by the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD). The City has also secured an allocation of 7.373 acre-feet /year of CAP water by establishing an agreement with the United States Bureau of Reclamation (BOR). Another renewable source of water that the city can utilize is their reclaimed effluent from the South Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP).

Water Supply

Surprise draws its public water supply from the West Salt River Valley sub-basin, through several well fields located throughout the city. Sole reliance on the aquifers may shift in the future to supplemental renewable supplies of surface water.

New water rights acquisition is fundamental to future development and growth. A portion of the water pumped by city wells now returns to the aquifer through the water reclamation via recharge, a return flow credit which is important in water rights holdings calculation.

Groundwater is still the predicted main source of water for the city, although surface water from beyond the region may supplement the traditional water supply in the future. This is the result of acquisition of water rights, a major long range planning accomplishment to assure Surprise’s sustainability in its arid desert setting. The city’s present water rights holding exceed 10,249 acre-feet, and reserves should accommodate demand beyond 2030.

Promotion of a continuing and escalating water conservation ethic will significantly enhance the future water supply.

Conservation is the most economical water savings source for both provider and user, reducing operating and capital costs. Water rates, conservation programs, and community education will be the primary elements to further conservation efforts.

Water System

As municipal water service provider the city has received entitlements to both groundwater and surface water supplies. Ten other water companies have rights to serve within the Surprise Planning Area; including Arizona American Water Company, Beardsley Water Company, Brooke Water Company, Chaparral Water Company, the city of El Mirage, Morristown Water Company, Puesta Del Sol Water Company, Saguaro Acres, Saguaro View, and West End Water Company.

The city currently has three water systems; Mountain Vista, Desert Oasis, and SPA 3 West. The supply for these water systems is comprised of 14 wells and 5 reservoirs water supply facilities. The City’s water supply system will require several modifications to the aquifer based system when it is necessary to use the surface water from CAP canal for drinking purposes. These modifications will include construction of a water diversion facility on the CAP, a state of the art water purification system and a network of large water distribution pipelines.

The water system is an important element in fire suppression, directly related to public safety. System reliability for fire suppression requires water facilities be kept in a state of good repair.

Water Production

Water production for all municipal purposes is related to the city’s growth. Water usage has greatly increased, rising faster than population growth. Water production from groundwater and surface water must increase to meet the demand created by the population growth in the city.

Water Demand

Even though Surprise draws its public water supply from an apparently abundant underground aquifer, it is prudent to conserve such an important resource. Demand for water based on quantity billed is 66.7 per cent residential and 34.3 per cent commercial. Demand has been steadily increasing since 2001.

Figure 6.3A - Water Analysis and Documentation

Water as one of the most important issues facing the region has received much attention in the last decade. New legislation, numerous studies, and new programs have generated a significant amount of new information. It is important to document the details of these programs and studies to provide a basis for analysis and comparison. The public and various agencies need to be able to access reliable data and track the decision-making process for greatest understanding and community consensus. It is also important to standardize methods and record keeping as much as possible to facilitate comparisons.

Many important decisions which will determine the future course for water programs and management in Surprise are yet to be made by the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and other state and federal agencies. These issues include the quantification of safe yield, the development of safe yield strategies, and federal water quality standards. Water interest associations, such as the Western Urban Water Coalition, will have a significant impact on the final outcome of federal regulations.