• Recycled water is an important water resource today and for the future.
• Tucson Water uses some of its recycled water to produce reclaimed water, which is specially treated for applications such as irrigation, dust control, fire fighting, and industrial uses.
• Reclaimed water is not treated to be used for drinking or bathing.
• There are 160 miles of pipe in the reclaimed water system and 15 million gallons of surface storage in enclosed reservoirs.
• During the summer, daily deliveries of reclaimed water can be more than 30 million gallons (MGD).
• Using reclaimed water instead of drinking water for irrigation saves enough water every year for more than 60,000 families.
• 50 parks and 65 schools, including the University of Arizona, irrigate with reclaimed water.
• More than 700 single-family homes use reclaimed water for outdoor landscaping.
• It is the policy of the City of Tucson that all new golf courses use reclaimed water..
• 18 golf courses, including four City-owned courses, irrigate with reclaimed water.
• Golf courses use about 60% of the reclaimed water delivered annually.
• As an incentive to use reclaimed water, its rate is lower than most of the drinking water rates.
• Converting from Tucson water’s drinking water system to reclaimed water can, for large volume commercial/industrial customers and some high water using residential customers, result in substantial savings on monthly water bills.
• Reclaimed water rates do not cover the full cost of service for reclaimed water. The amount not covered by the rates, 3% in fiscal year 2011, is funded from potable water system revenues.

Revised 10/2012