Casa Grande staff outline effluent-allocation planning schedule, promise treated-effluent projections

City staff told the Casa Grande City Council study session that work on an effluent allocation strategy will continue in coming weeks and that treated-effluent volume projections will be presented to council as part of that process.

Staff (unnamed) recapped questions from the Dec. 15 council meeting and introduced the advisory and technical team members who will help the city develop an allocation approach, including Westwater Research (point of contact Amanda Long and consultant Cliff Neal), and city staff additions Catherine Sorensen and Sarah Porter.

The staff timeline presented to the council said Catherine Sorensen will present treated-effluent volume projections starting "on the twentieth" (as stated), Arizona Water Company may return to council on Feb. 2 (tentative), and staff expects to continue the effluent-allocation dialogue on the 17th (as presented). The staff brief said the city hopes to finalize the elements of an allocation strategy around March 2.

Staff also noted the city's pending application before the Arizona Department of Water Resources for a designation of assured water supply related to the Copper Mountain Ranch area and said updates on that application may be available at upcoming meetings. Staff emphasized the effluent allocations discussion is tied to water-rights, supply determinations and infrastructure planning.

No formal votes or allocations were adopted in the study session; staff said the schedule is tentative and that additional presentations and data will be brought back to council for further discussion.