AMWUA Blog
BY: AMWUA StaffCheers to our safe, clean, and reliable tap water
We are fortunate to have continuous access to tap water that ensures public health, fire protection, support for our economy, and the quality of life we enjoy. Any measure of a prosperous society – low mortality rates, economic growth and diversity, productivity, and public safety – is related to access to safe water.
This month, we celebrated Drinking Water Week , an opportune time to highlight water's critical role in our lives and reemphasize that tap water is safe, clean, protected, and available whenever needed. It’s also a prime time to learn about your local drinking water. Additionally, our willingness to conserve and protect our water strengthens when we better understand its journey to our faucets and the efforts that go into delivering safe and clean water every day.
Most importantly, we can live in the middle of the desert because water providers continually plan and invest to ensure safe, reliable, and sustainable water supplies for today and the future. By investing in and protecting their rights to diverse water sources, the ten AMWUA cities are better prepared for the long-term and any short-term challenges that may arise, such as a shortage that impacts one of those sources.
While many people may find it surprising that we have multiple water sources here in our arid state, these diverse water supplies ensure resiliency in our desert communities. Those water sources include:
Local municipal water providers always look for innovative ways to bolster and stretch their water supplies, especially in our climate. A viable option for water managers is maximizing recycled water using advanced purified water treatment technology . It is efficient and cost-effective on a large scale and would provide a more immediate boost to local water supplies. This is especially important as we face a long-standing drought, Colorado River shortages, and groundwater challenges.
Recycling water is not new. All water on our planet has been used and reused since the beginning of time. Using advanced technology to purify recycled water through potable reuse merely speeds up the natural process while providing a needed, drought-proof water supply of higher quality than what occurs naturally.
As more water providers look to expand their portfolios using this innovation, we move closer to the concept of - One Water . This concept has been around for quite some time. Traditionally, the water industry has treated drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and existing water sources separately, each being managed through its own water systems and processes. The goal of One Water is to value water at every stage and in every form, regardless of the source - whether it comes from the tap, a stream, a storm, an aquifer, or a sewer.
So remember, when you turn on any tap in your home, your water utility works hard around the clock to ensure high-quality drinking water is there whenever you need it. Whether it’s to cool off after a workout or warm up in a hot bath, make your favorite cup of tea or morning coffee. We need it to drink, cook, and clean everything around us. Most importantly, it is always accessible and can be used to ensure the health and safety of ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities. We should always be aware of how our water, regardless of the source, gives us the life we enjoy.
The American Water Works Association and its members have celebrated Drinking Water Week for 40 years. It’s a unique opportunity for water professionals and the communities they serve to join together in recognizing water's vital role in our daily lives.
For over 55 years, the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association has worked to protect our member cities’ ability to provide assured, safe, and sustainable water supplies to their communities. For more water information, visit www.amwua.org .