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Tucson asks staff to study ‘large quantity water user’ rules used by Phoenix
Summary
Council directed Tucson Water to analyze ordinances like Phoenix’s that require extra conservation measures from very large water users and to return in the fall with options for thresholds, design standards and stakeholder processes.
The mayor and council directed Tucson Water to develop policy options for handling “large quantity water users” after council member Nikki Lee asked staff to review steps taken in other Colorado River Basin communities.
What the council asked for: John Kimmick of Tucson Water told council that Phoenix had set two thresholds—250,000 gallons per day (gpd) and 500,000 gpd—at which new or expanding customers would face additional conservation and reuse requirements as part of development approvals. Kimmick said the thresholds equate roughly to 10,000 and 20,000 CCF per month by the city’s billing measure, and that Tucson currently has no customers at those levels.
Why it matters: Council members framed the discussion as planning to balance future economic development and job attraction with the region’s long-term water supply. Members asked that staff produce options the utility can use to set thresholds, tier rules and incentive/mitigation menus—options that could include onsite reuse requirements, reclaimed-water connections, and investments in city infrastructure to offset new demand.
Next steps and timing: Council directed staff to return in September–October with a range of policy options and stakeholder engagement plans. Council member Lee explicitly asked that stakeholders—environmental groups, business interests, economic development partners and Pima County—be engaged early in the process.
Speakers: Nikki Lee, Council Member (requesting the item); John Kimmick, Tucson Water (staff presenter); Mayor Regina Romero; Council members (questions and direction).
Discussion vs. decision: The motion gives direction to staff to analyze policy options and stakeholder engagement models and to return in fall 2025 with recommended thresholds and potential conservation offset menus. No ordinance was adopted at this meeting.
Clarifying details: Staff noted Phoenix’s thresholds (250k gpd and 500k gpd) map to 10,000 and 20,000 CCF per month on Tucson’s billing units; Tucson currently reported zero customers at 10,000 CCF per month. Staff pointed to prior local conservation measures (turf ordinance, commercial tier rate changes) and framed the new work as part of the 1Water2100 demand strategies.
Proper names: City of Phoenix, Tucson Water, 1Water2100 plan.
Implementation: Staff will develop draft policy options, stakeholder engagement plan, and return with options in September–October 2025 for council consideration.
