Guided Tours

In order to promote more complete understanding of important water issues, and the methods used by Tucson Water to meet the water needs of our community, the Utility offers guided tours of several of its facilities. To schedule a tour, please contact Tucson Water's Public Information Office at (520) 791-4331. (Tours are subject to cancellation)

Reclaimed Water Treatment Plant

Tours guide you through the process of recycling wastewater for reuse as irrigation water for parks, schoolyards, golf courses and other facilities. Participants view the filtration, disinfection and pumping facilities involved in creating and distributing reclaimed water.

Sweetwater Wetlands

This multi-purpose facility is designed to treat backwash water from our filtering system at the Reclaimed Treatment Plant. The wetlands provide an area for wildlife and riparian restoration within our desert area. Visitors learn about ecology and water resource management as they observe various migratory bird species. This facility is also designed for self-guided tours and is open to the public every day from dawn to dusk except Monday mornings. A Sweetwater Wetlands Activity Book and Field Guide is also available upon request.

Clearwater Recharge Basins

Visitors travel to the Central Avra Valley Storage and Recovery Project where Colorado River water is recharged through eleven constructed basins to blend with the native groundwater below. Guests also visit the pumping station, hydropneumatic tanks and pipeline that delivers the water to our community.

Hayden-Udall Treatment Plant

Tour participants visit Tucson Water's primary water treatment facility, including the ozonation building, flocculation basins, filtration areas and chlorination facility. The plant also is the site of the Utility's state-of-the-art Water Quality laboratory.

Tucson Airport Remediation Project (TARP)

This facility is designed to remove trichloroethylene (TCE) from an area of contaminated groundwater near the Tucson International Airport. Visitors learn about the air-stripping process used to remove this volatile compound from the contaminated groundwater.