Pima County expands stormwater parks and effluent reuse to combat 22% water use spike

Pima County expands stormwater parks and effluent reuse to combat 22% water use spikeThe county's Regional Flood Control District has completed seven stormwater parks and is advancing effluent projects, even as unmanaged leaks drove up total municipal water consumption by 148,000 kilogallons.

The Regional Flood Control District recently opened its seventh stormwater park to capture runoff and reduce potable water demand.

A detention basin pilot at Rita Ranch successfully captured 23.3 acre-feet of stormwater in its first year of operation.

The Kino Stadium District completed a water optimization project utilizing effluent and stormwater, aiming to save 30 acre-feet of potable water annually.

Despite conservation efforts, overall county water use rose 22%, primarily attributed to two major leaks totaling approximately 148,000 kilogallons.

Separately, the Board of Supervisors approved a $25 million job order contract for wastewater conveyance system repair and rehabilitation.

Pima County is aggressively expanding its green stormwater infrastructure and effluent reuse capabilities to manage municipal water demand, according to an update on the county's Climate Action Plan presented to the Board of Supervisors on July 14, 2026. Sarah Davis, presenting on behalf of the Climate Action Team's Water Working Group, highlighted the Regional Flood Control District's completion of seven stormwater parks. The latest, the Julia Keene stormwater park, opened in May. These facilities are designed using geospatial data, flood conditions, and heat vulnerability indices to capture stormwater, reduce potable water consumption, and support native vegetation. Two additional sites, Wahke Park—developed in partnership with the Tohono O'odham Nation—and Amphi Stormwater Park, are currently in development. The county is also tracking the success of recent pilot projects. The Rita Ranch detention basin captured 23.3 acre-feet of stormwater in its first year. Meanwhile, the Kino Stadium District and Sports Complex recently completed a water optimization project that uses a combination of effluent and stormwater for site irrigation. The project is anticipated to save the equivalent of 30 acre-feet of potable water, roughly the usage of 90 households. Despite these infrastructure improvements, the county faced a significant setback in its overall conservation goals. Total county water use spiked by 22% over the past year. Davis attributed the increase to the activation of additional recreation spaces, hotter summers, and two major unmanaged leaks. The leaks accounted for approximately 148,000 kilogallons of lost water. In response, the county is exploring the deployment of smart metering technology for sites outside its actively managed portfolio. Actively managed county facilities, however, saw a 15% reduction in water use due to improved fixtures and cooling equipment. In separate water infrastructure actions, the Board of Supervisors advanced a $25 million job order contract for the Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department. The contract, awarded to a pool of four contractors, covers repair, rehabilitation, and construction services for the county's wastewater conveyance system. The board also approved an update to the Marana Designated Management Agency boundary map, allowing the Town of Marana to provide wastewater service to new development in Saguaro Bloom, and advanced a $593,247 design engineering contract with Solis Engineering for the Drexel to Valencia East Bank Restoration project.