The metropolitan area of Eastern Pima County Arizona is developing and implementing a Regional Optimization Master Plan (ROMP) as a $720 million program to modernize and upgrade the two major RWRD metropolitan treatment facilities. These modernizations will improve the water quality for recharge and reuse, develop a state of the art water quality laboratory, incorporate solar and rainwater harvesting features, and will help to develop habitat and birding features. The Pima County/Tucson team will present the ongoing collaboration with the water research scientists at the University of Arizona, Pima Association of Governments, Tucson Audubon Society and other community organizations to proudly transform these RWRD treatment facilities into a water-centric focus area for the region, capitalizing on the natural beauty of the Santa Cruz River and the award winning area of the Tucson Sweetwater Wetlands.

1. Spotlight: Tucson/Pima County, Arizona
Alan Forrest, P.E., Tucson Water Director; Jackson Jenkins, Director – RWRD; Ed Curley,
Senior Program Manager – RWRD; Dr. Jeff Prevatt, Regulatory Compliance Manager –
RWRD; Dr. Paul Green, Executive Director – Tucson Audubon Society; Claire Zucker,
Sustainable Environment Program Director – PAG
October 16, 2012
1

2. Spotlight: Tucson/Pima County, Arizona
 Team Members
- Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department
- Tucson Water Department
- Tucson Audubon Society
- Pima Association of Governments
- University of Arizona
Regional Wastewater
Reclamation
Department
2

3. Spotlight: Tucson/Pima County, Arizona
 Topics
- Introduction to the Arid West
- ROMP – Water Quality and the Environment
- Arid Lands / Water Resources – A Balancing Act
- Birds, Business, and Reclaimed Water
- Science and Technology
- Creating a New Water Resource
3

4. Introduction to the Arid West and Pima County
Ed Curley, Senior Program Manager – RWRD
4

5. The Arid West is Different!
5

6. The Arid West – Defined by Rainfall
Arid West
ecosystems are www.tucsonforbeginners.com
unique in the
United States
Average Annual
Precipitation
0 – 10”
10 – 20”
>20”
6

7. Critical Issues in the Arid West
Water Quantity
Water Quality
Water Reliability
Stormwater
7

8. Arid West Water Quantity / Allocation
All surface water in the Arid West is fully
allocated to federal, state, tribal, municipal
or private (farms and ranches) interests.
Groundwater levels are declining across
the West.
As a result, effluent has become very
valuable as a water source, and the control
and utilization of effluent are critical issues!
Colorado River water rights
NRCS Photo
Existing groundwater rights
8

9. Arid West Water Quality
Human Health Aquatic Environment
Emerging Contaminant Concerns
9

10. Arid West Water Reliability
Drought
Lake Mead, 2010
Lake Mead, 1985
Satellite images
Photo by Craig Moran, LV Review Journal
10

11. Arid West Stormwater Quality/Quantity
Erosion hazards / Debris flows and sediment
sediment transport
Wildfires
that alter Inadequate
watershed stormwater
conditions facilities in
urban core
11

12. Who We Are
 Population:
1,000,000 in Pima County
742,000 in City of Tucson
 9,200 square miles
 Annual rainfall: 12 inches
(metro area)
Tucson
Pima County
12

13. Native American Tribes/Nations
• Sovereign nations
• 42% of land in county
is Native American land
Welovesonora.com
13

14. Public Lands Bureau of Land Management
Forest Service
Indian Reservation
Local or State Parks
Military
National Parks
• Only 14% of land in
Other
county is private
Private
State Trust Land
Wildlife Refuge
Saguaro National Monument
14

15. Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan
 Critical and sensitive habitat
 Biological corridors
 Riparian preservation
 Historical and cultural resources
 Mountain parks
 Ranch conservation
Mule Deer
Coyote
Bobcat
Raccoon
Javelina
15
15

16. ROMP – Water Quality and the Environment
Jackson Jenkins, Director – RWRD
16

17. Pima/Tucson Water Cycle
Glen Canyon
Hoover Dam
Dam River Rocky Mountains
ado
lor
Co
Grand Canyon Reservoir
Lake Wastewater
Havasu Commercial/
Ce
Sa
Reclamation
Industrial
na
na
nta
ntr
Plant
r
ralll
Cu
Cu
Cru
Homes
zR
iiive
Golf Courses
re
e
Ariz
r o
r o
Reservoir
Well
ona
Booster
o
Reclaimed
ic
a
a
ex
Water
M
Plant
To
Booster
Project
Storage and
Parks o
Reservoir
Recovery
Project
Tucson
Hayden/Udall Well Schools Golf Courses
TWP
Well
Well Well
Well Booster 17

18. Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation System
RWRD
Regional Sewer
Service Area Rillito Vista
 2nd largest wastewater
WRF system in Arizona
Regional Mt. Lemmon WRF
Wastewater
 700-square-mile service
Reclamation
Facilities (WRF) area
Ina
Sub-Regional Road WRF  265,000 customers
WRFs
Roger  500 employees
Tucson City Road WRF
Limits
Conveyance
Randolph
Park WRF
 3,500 miles of sewer pipe
 73,000 manholes and
Avra Valley cleanouts
WRF
 29 lift stations
Treatment
Pima County
Fairgrounds WRF  10 wastewater
reclamation facilities
Corona de
Tucson WRF
2 regional and
8 sub-regional
Green Valley WRF
 Average 62 million
gallons per day (MGD) of
treated wastewater
 30 dry tons per day of
biosolids to be applied to
agricultural lands
Arivaca Junction WRF
Pima County
Regional Wastewater
Reclamation Department
18

19. Plant Interconnect
Project Schedule Status
Project Completed
December 22, 2010
Project/Operational
April 11, 2011
Pipe being laid 19

20. Water Reclamation Campus Treatment Facility
Purpose
To replace the aging Roger Road
WRF with a new
state-of-the-art WRF
To comply with the regulatory
requirement to significantly
reduce nutrient concentrations
in effluent discharged to the
Santa Cruz River
To provide Class A+ reclaimed
water quality
To provide reclaimed water to
Tucson Water for parks,
golf courses and environmental Water Reclamation Campus Treatment Facility
restoration projects
20

21. Water Reclamation Campus Treatment Facility
Project Schedule Status
Regulatory Compliance date for facility to be
operational and in compliance with regulatory
effluent quality requirements:
January 30, 2015
Contract substantial completion date:
August 14, 2014
Project is currently 62% complete
21

22. Water & Energy Sustainability Center
(WESC)
Project Purpose
To provide a state-of-the art
water laboratory to provide all
regulatory compliance testing
To provide analytical
services for other
governmental agencies WESC Lobby
and universities
Project Schedule Status
Project Completed
March 2012
Project/Operational
December 2011 WESC Exterior
22

23. Biosolids / Biogas Utilization Master Plan
Purpose
Develop a master plan for future regional treatment
and reuse of biosolids
Develop a master plan for the complete beneficial
utilization of biogas
Local Biosolids Application Digester Gas Complex
23

24. Regional Optimization Master Plan
Addressing Water Quality with
State-of-the-art Treatment
Bardenpho Treatment
• A+ reclaimed water
• Lower BOD
• Nitrification/denitrification
• Improved solids removal
So, What are the
projected levels???? 24 24

25. Average Pollutant Concentration, (mg/L)
Expected Effluent Quality vs. Existing Effluent Quality
EXISTING TREATMENT UPGRADED TREATMENT
Based on Actual Treatment Quality, 2010 Estimate Using Actual Percent Removal by Existing
BNR Facilities and Actual Influent Data, 2010
Ina Road Roger Ina Road Water Reclamation
WRF Road WRF WRF Campus
Nitrogen 26 31 2.5 2.3
Phosphorus 3.4 4.0 < 1.0* < 1.0*
BOD 12 10 2.4 2.7
TSS 7 16 3.1 3.3
* From Basis for Design – Effluent Quality Requirements Ina Road WRF Capacity and Effluent Quality Upgrade;
Ina Road WRF Capacity and Effluent Quality Upgrade Final Design Report, January 2011
25

26. ROMP Implementation Costs
ROMP planning level estimated cost
(2006 dollars): $536 million
ROMP budget including
cost inflation (assuming an
inflation rate of 5%): $720 million
Bonding/debt service:
1+ billion
26

27. Financial Planning –
Impact of Rate Increase on Average Sewer Bill
27

28. ROMP Budget vs. Projected Final Costs
ROMP BUDGET PROJECTED FINAL COSTS
Ina Road WRF $301,290,000 $311,717,581
Plant Interconnect 41,190,000 33,415,907
Water Reclamation Campus 275,100,000 182,466,445
Central Laboratory Complex 28,870,000 28,870,000(5)
Biosolids / Biogas Master Plan 21,810,000 25,810,000(2)
SCADA 13,460,000 13,593,000
Roger Road WRF
Decommissioning / 38,290,000 41,107,736(3)
Deconstruction
TOTALS $720,010,000(1) $636,980,669(4)
1) The original ROMP Budget of $720,000,000 has been reduced to $660,000,000 due primarily to the budget savings in the
award of the Water Campus Treatment Facility DBO Project.
2) Significant savings in capital costs may be realized if the ultimate master plan results in a Public Private Partnership with
private sectors ownership such as in a DBFOO procurement.
3) The capital cost for the deconstruction of the Roger Road WRF property may be significantly reduced in the event of the
sale or lease of the property.
4) Additional reductions in the ROMP Budget below current ROMP Budget of $660,000,000 is anticipated when the project
procurement methods for the Biosolids / Biogas Master Plan and deconstruction of the Roger Road WRF Property are
decided.
5) The projected costs for the Central Laboratory Complex includes costs for an expansion to the Laboratory for future
RWRD needs and an interim lease agreement with the University of Arizona. 28

29. Alan Forrest, P.E., Tucson Water Director

30. Tucson Water Potable and Reclaimed Water Systems
Water System
Tucson City Limits
$115,000,000 in Water Sales
$141,000,000 in Total Rev. Reclaimed Water Potable Water
800,000 Customers
225,000 Metered Services
212 Production Wells
65 Water Storage Fac.
100 Boosters
20,000 Fire Hydrants
18 Golf Courses
80,000 Valves
Reclaimed System
160 miles of pipeline
5 Reservoirs
10 MGD Filtration Plant
Recharge & Recovery
Facilities
Deliveries - 15,203 ac-ft
820 Sites, 1,073 meters 47 Parks
18 golf courses
704 SF residences
47 parks (43 City, 4 County)
61 schools
65 Water Storage Facilities
Groundwater
212 Production Well Sites
30

31. Available Water Supplies
Rocky Mountains
Renewable Water Supplies
 Colorado River Allocation
 Recycled Water
 “Other” Water Supplies
In Channel Tucson Water
Recharge Supply
Finite Water Supplies
 Groundwater
 Stored Colorado River Water
Reclaimed
Water
31

32. 2011 Wet Water By Type
Total Water Production
120,350 AF
Reclaimed Water
11%
TARP Water
5%
Groundwater
20%
CAP Water
64%
Groundwater CAP TARP Reclaimed
32

33. Efficiency & Conservation
Zanjeros Program
33

34. Tucson’s Reclaimed Water
34

35. 2011 Effluent Storage & Recovery Summary
Total Delivery to 3 Underground Storage Facilities
13,441.2 AF
9%
19%
44%
28%
Physical Losses Long Term Storage Cut to Aquifer Annual Recovery
35

36. Transition to Renewable Supplies
140,000
Water Production for TW Service Area
120,000
Total Potable Water Use at 1994 Level Reclaimed Water
100,000
(Acre-Feet)
80,000
CAP
60,000
40,000 Groundwater Pumping at 1959 Level
20,000 Pumped Groundwater
0
2011
1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Year
36

37. Tucson Water‘s History of Planning
2012
1989 2004 2008
RWMP
Long
Range
Plan &
Update RWMP
Tucson Water Resources Plan Water Plan: 2000-2050 Water Plan: 2000-2050
1990-2100 2008 Update
37

38. Potable Water Use
Projection to 2050
250,000
Demand = CAP Allocation
200,000
Volume (Acre-Feet)
150,000
2027
100,000
50,000
0
2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Year
Combination of Renewable and Finite Water Supplies Banked Colorado River Water
Colorado River Water Actual Demand
Potable Demand @145 GPCD
The data were provided to TW by PAG - PAG sources the data as:
University of Arizona, Eller College of Management, Economic and Business Research Center - 2011 3rd Quarter Forecast for Pima County
38

39. Cooperative Initiatives
Constructed Recharge
City of Tucson Sweetwater Wetlands
39

40. Cooperative Initiatives
Ecosystem Restoration
Kino Environmental Restoration Project
Army Corps of
Engineers
Pima County
RWRD & RFCD
City of Tucson
Before restoration
After restoration
40

41. Birds, Business and Reclaimed Water
Dr. Paul Green, Executive Director – Tucson Audubon Society
41

42. Birds, business, and reclaimed water
Birds and Pima County
Wastewater Treatment
 Why so many kinds of
birds?
 Economic value of
birding in Pima
County
 PCRWRD proactively
encourages multiple
use
42

43. Birds, business, and reclaimed water
Southeast
Arizona/Pima
County
One percent
of the area
Fifty percent
of the birds
43

44. Birds, business, and reclaimed water
How many different kinds
of birds in Arizona?
 Around 914  620 in Texas
species in North  616 in California
America
 523 in New Mexico
 525 species in
Arizona  485 in Florida
 465 in Colorado
 445 in New Jersey
44

45. Birds, business, and reclaimed water
US Fish & Wildlife Service
 48 million Americans watch birds
 Generate $82bn in total industry output
 Generate 671,000 jobs
 Contribute $11bn taxes
 82% spending generated by non-
consumptive uses of refuges
 26.2 million golfers
45

46. Birds, business, and reclaimed water
How do Wildlife Watchers
spend their $$ in Arizona?
Food $33,158,867 $76,523,656 $109,682,523
Lodging $15,317,068 $68,511,041 $83,828,109
Private transportation $28,246,411 $41,284,636 $69,531,047
Public transportation $905,018 $27,780,815 $28,685,834
Public land access fees $1,910,195 $3,193,743 $5,103,938
Guide fees $1,108,307 $1,193,379 $2,301,686
46

47. Birds, business, and reclaimed water
Total Economic Impact/000s/200x
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
Gem Show Superbowl XXX Hunting Fishing Golf Wildlife Viewing
47

48. Birds, business, and reclaimed water
Tucson Audubon Provides
Information Events
 Finding Birds in  National festival
Southeast Arizona  Bird walks: several every week
 Tucsonaudubon.org  Events for learning, celebrating
 Rare bird alert
 Nature stores Places
 Develop resources at facilities  Water is scarce in an arid
where birding is good environment
 Birding trails  Water-based habitats attract
birds in abundance and variety
 Cooperation promotes
understanding
 RWRD Wastewater Reclamation
Facilities hugely attractive to
birds and birders
48

49. Birds, business, and reclaimed water
Roger Road
Avra Valley
Corona de
Tucson
Green Valley 49

50. Birds, business, and reclaimed water
Robert Shantz
50

51. Birds, business, and reclaimed water
Roger Road
 Access
 Management
51

52. Birds, business, and reclaimed water
Avra Valley

53. Birds, business, and reclaimed water
Green Valley

54. Birds, business, and reclaimed water
54

55. Birds, business, and reclaimed water

56. Science and Technology
Dr. Jeff Prevatt, Regulatory Compliance Manager – RWRD
56

57. Endocrine Disruptors (EDCs) – A Subset of ECs
Metals
Personal
Care
Products Industrial
Chemicals
Suspected Synthetic
Pesticides EDCs and
Herbicides Naturally
Fungicides Occurring
Hormones
Pharmaceutical
Drugs
57

58. Wastewater Treatment and
Removal of Emerging Contaminants
Effects of trace organics in effluent discharged into
surface water or through groundwater infiltration have
not been well studied.
There is evidence of
biodegradation of some
trace organic compounds in
the stream environment.
USGS: The Story of
4-n-nonylphenol
Biodegradation in
Stream Sediments
58

59. Wastewater Treatment and Removal of EDCs
Total Estrogenic Activity
Arizona Facility % Removal
Avra Valley 99.8
Roger Road 33 (>99)
Ina Road 88 (>99)
Randolph Park >99
Wildcat (Flagstaff) 96
Rio de Flag (Flagstaff) >99.6
Note: RWRD’s Roger Road and Ina Road WWTPs did not have nitrification-denitrification at the time of
this study. All others were tertiary plants with nitrification-denitrification. Black and Veatch, 2004
59

60. Dispose-A-Med Program
Featured Partners
The Regional Wastewater
Reclamation Department has
been actively involved with
education about emerging
contaminants in the waste
stream, and has participated
in several Dispose-A-Med
events in the community.
60

61. Water and Energy Sustainability Center
 Current Partners
Regional Wastewater
Reclamation Department
 Improved instrumentation
technology
 Improved process
technology
 Advanced research
 Pilot testing 61

62. University of Arizona – Tucson, Arizona
USA
“Leading Research Institution in the American
Southwest”
62

63. Possible Partners
Regional
Wastewater
Reclamation
Department
WEST Center
63

64. Living River
 Multi-year study funded by EPA, RWRD and
Regional Flood Control District
 Partners: USGS, ADEQ, University of
Arizona, Sonoran Institute, Arizona State
University
 Document effect of treatment process
improvements through ROMP
 Investigate impact on water quality, habitat,
wildlife, groundwater infiltration
 Study normal stream flows and stormwater
events 64

65. Living River Surface Water
Sampling Program
 Surface water sampling
since 2004
 Quarterly frequency
 At least 4 locations – change
with conditions and access
 Adjacent to well locations
also:
 One upstream stormwater
location occasionally sampled
 Compliance sampling conducted
at Roger Road and Ina Road
WRF outfalls
65

66. Proposed Initial Living River
Water Quality Indicators
 Field Parameters
• Temperature
• Dissolved Oxygen
• Electrical Conductivity
• pH
 Treatment Performance
Indicators
• Biological Oxygen Demand
• Total Suspended Solids
 Microbiology
• E-Coli 66

67. Creating a New Water Resource
Claire Zucker, Sustainable Environment Program Director – PAG
67

68. Pima Association of
Governments
Sustainable Environment

69. Arid West Stormwater…our “Other” water
• Fast flowing
• Intermittent
• Often channelized
• Runs through streets
• Picking up pollutants

70. Stormwater - Supporting Our Water Resources
• Recharging our aquifers
• Providing water to our upland riparian areas
Urban
utilization
Key component of
water sustainability

71. Transforming problem
water into a water resource

72. Stormwater/ Rainwater Catchment Options
Kino Environmental Restoration Project
• U.S. Corps of Engineers & Pima County
• Re-developed detention basins
• 141 acres, with 28 acres riparian/open water
• Currently using only stormwater but can be
supplemented with effluent as needed
Student initiated and
installed
• Harvests approximately
18,000 gallons/year
• Captures roof runoff into
numerous micro basins

73. Stormwater/Rainwater Catchment Options
Streets and Medians
Develop Road Design Technical Standards
• For rainwater harvesting and promoting
planting and growth of shade trees

74. Stormwater/Rainwater Catchment Options
Commercial
Tucson Commercial Water Harvesting
Ordinance
• 50% of outdoor water
needs met through
rainwater harvesting
Oro Valley Landscape
Conservation Code
Community Design
Green Living
Co-op
“Barn-raising”
style workshops
2011:380 members
32 workshops

75. Conserve to Enhance
Connecting the Drops
Linking Urban Water Use with Local
Environmental Needs
• Sonoran Institute
• Watershed Management Group
• University of Arizona
18 Month Pilot Project
January 2011 - June 2012
• 60 participant households
• 220 volunteers engaged
• 1,100 volunteer-hours logged
• 4.1 acre-feet water saved
• 6,090 gallons cistern capacity
• 6,530 gallons of earthworks capacity

76. Quantifying Rainwater Harvesting
Conservation
Potential
2008 Estimate of Seasonal Rainfall in
15.00
the Tucson Area
10.00
Rainfall (in)
5.00 Rainfall is seasonal
0.00
Flows are unpredictable
WinterSpring
Summer Fall
Season
Total Primarily for offsetting landscape use

77. Tucson Clean and
Rainwater Beautiful
Harvesting/ Trees for Tucson – distributed
over 75,000 trees in Tucson
Low Impact since 1989
Development
At the Urban
Interface
Urban Heat
Island (UHI) Drought
Mitigation Preparedness Economic
Driver

78. City of Interim Watercourse
Government Leadership Tucson Improvement Policy
1988
Watercourse Amenities,
City of
Urban Heat Island Tucson
Safety, And Habitat
City of Tucson Water
(WASH) Regulations
1991
City of
Impacting Policies Tucson
Harvesting Guidance 2005
City of Manual
Commercial Rainwater
Review of 46 TucsonPima Harvesting Ordinance
Flood Control LID
2008
2011
regulations, guidelines, mun County Working Group
Town of Oro Valley
Town of Guidelines for Long-
icipal projects ADOT Landscape Conservation 2010 2011
Range Planning
Oro Valley
Code
Town of Sahuarita Farms River
Pima Kino Environmental
Stormwater 2012
Pima Sahuarita Master Plan Report2001
County Restoration Project
Detention/Retention 2012
5 County Marana Parks,
Number of Efforts per Year
Rainwater Harvesting at
Town of Manual (draft)
City of Recreation, Trails and 2010
Marana Ward Council
COT 2007
Tucson Open Space Master Plan
Offices
4 City of Pima County Regional
Urban Heat Island
Pima Tucson 2005
Workshops
Optimization Master 2007
County
Plan (ROMP) South Tucson
City of
3 City of Environmental
South Workplace 2011
Tucson Development and Job
2 Training Program
Rainwater Harvesting
City of
Training through 2012
Tucson
1 Tucson Water
0
1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015
Date

79. Likely Scenario?
Hotter
Drier
More of us Our
children’s
future
Recreation
Urban Wildlife

80. Claire Zucker
Pima Association of Governments
czucker@pagnet.org
520-792-1093

81. Vision: Balancing Priorities
Integrated
Planning Wastewater
Planning
Research
Sustainability
Environment
81

82. 82

83. 83