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Council asks staff to study switching museum irrigation from culinary to river water
Summary
Council discussed proposals to change museum irrigation from culinary water to river/irrigation water, raised questions about filtration, point-of-diversion registration, xeriscaping trade-offs and upfront costs, and asked City Manager David to research design and cost estimates.
Council members discussed converting museum irrigation from culinary water to river water to reduce the city's culinary-water demand and long-term costs. Staff described possible approaches — a culvert intake several feet off the bank, floating surface skimming intakes, or tapping an existing larger water line — and noted the city already holds water rights but would need point-of-diversion registration and design work.
Council members and staff flagged potential issues (filtration, intake debris, impact on concrete surfaces, weed-control needs around desert landscaping) and suggested investigating grants or NRCS/Soil Conservation District programs that assist irrigation optimization. One councilmember requested the city manager reach out to companies for design and cost proposals and to consult others who have completed similar conversions.
Next steps: City Manager David was asked to research options, contact contractors and NRCS resources, and return to council with designs and cost estimates that include potential grant opportunities.
