Until 1887, Tucson residents purchaced water for a penny a gallon from vendors who transported it in bags draped over burro's backs. After that, water was sold by the bucket or barrel and delivered door-to-door in wagons.

In 1881 the privately-owned Tucson Water Company began operating and delivering the first piped water into town. The water was pumped from a well on the banks of the Santa Cruz River and flowed by gravity into the distribution system.

On July 24, 1900, the City of Tucson purchased the Tucson Water Company for $110,000.

Today, Tucson Water serves nearly 675,000 customers within a 375 square-mile area. The infrastructure required to meet customer demand includes 3,500 miles of pipelines, more than 20 large reservoirs, and the efforts of more than 575 full-time employees.

Tucson Water's mission is to "Ensure Customer Satisfaction by Consistently Delivering High Quality Water and Service in a Cost Efficient, Environmentally Responsible Manner Today and for the Future."

Tucson's water resources plan identifies four major water resources for study and development over a 110-year planning period: water conservation, Central Arizona Project (CAP) water, effluent (treated wastewater), and groundwater.

In 1992, Tucson Water delivered CAP water to some customers that was unacceptable. This problem led Tucson to modify its water resources plan to allow more study of the best use of CAP water in our community. While we remain dependent on groundwater, Tucson Water is making use of CAP water by selling it to local farmers, and is developing several recharge projects to augment our groundwater supply.

Tucson's future depands on the wise use of water - our most precious natural resource. Tucson Water works with the Mayor and Council, its customers, and State and Federal regulatory agencies to ensure that we use all our water resources to the best benefit of all.

For more information concerning Tucson's water history, visit the following link:

• Water Use and Water Law - Mining, Agriculture, and the CAP