Arizona water agencies act to assure security and resiliency of State water supply

On a mission to reassure Arizonans that their tap water is secure in these unsettled times, a group of agencies including ADWR and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has released an informational statement observing that “Arizona’s water supplies remain safe and resilient.”

“We are each taking extra precautions by implementing resiliency plans that have been developed for times like these to better ensure essential operations continue without interruption,” according to the statement.

“(A)nd we can fully support local water providers - all of which could not be achieved without the dedicated efforts of all of our employees.”

The declaration was released jointly on Wednesday by ADWR, ADEQ, the Central Arizona Project, the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association and the Salt River Project.

Arizona’s official “water community” – including ADWR, ADEQ, municipal and rural water providers, CAP, SRP, Arizona tribes and many others – has worked diligently since the early days of the COVID-19 crisis in the U.S. to assure Arizonans of the security of the State’s water supplies.

A key element of that due diligence is providing the public with timely, accurate and helpful information regarding matters related to water.

On the State level, ADWR and ADEQ  both have created special web sections devoted to providing detailed and timely information about their organization’s crisis-era operations.  CAP, SRP and  AMWUA  have done likewise.

Regarding water security matters, ADEQ and ADWR provide links to EPA and CDC water-related data. AMWUA, an association of ten large municipalities in Maricopa County, also provides up-to-date information  from EPA and CDC sources in a “frequently asked questions” page it has created. Among the EPA observations, it cites: “The COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking water.” EPA has also said, “Americans can continue to use and drink water from their tap as usual.”

Indeed, many municipal water providers are going to great lengths to keep their customers informed of plans and developments.

Among other COVID-19 related information, the City of Phoenix also provides a detailed FAQ. Most communities have added COVID-19 information to their web pages. The City of Peoria, for example, provides a plethora of information, including videotaped messages about Peoria's responsiveness to the crisis from Peoria Mayor Cathy Carlat. Numerous other community water providers are taking similar measures.

Click HERE to visit the Arizona Department of Water Resources website to read more.