Carol W. West, an independent, represents Ward 2 on the Tucson City Council.

General
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MYSTERY SHOPPERS General
VALLEY PROTECTIVE SERVICES
SECURITY OFFICERS Health Care
VALOR HOSPICECARE
ON-CALL NURSE Production and Manufacturing
QUALITY MANAGER General
Maintenance Technician Health Care
Sonora Behavorial Health
Executive Assistant Health Care
Mountain Land Rehabilitation
Physical Therapist

Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup and the City Council have directed Tucson Water to significantly increase the purchase of Central Arizona Project water from the current 70,000 acre-feet (or 23 billion gallons) to 144,172 acre-feet (or 47 billion gallons).

As we take all of our CAP water, we will invest nearly $150 million in infrastructure for the recharge and recovery of the water, and for storage and distribution of the recovered water.

The annual capacity of our recharge/storage facilities in Avra Valley will increase from the current 100,000 acre-feet per year (32.5 billion gallons) to 160,000 acre-feet (52 billion gallons) by 2012.

Decades of groundwater overpumping has caused environmental damage, such as the loss of riparian areas and land subsidence. Our ability to pump is also limited by state laws that require us to move away from groundwater as a primary water supply. We must use renewable supplies of water like CAP.

The drought affecting the Colorado River brings the potential for a shortage on the river to be declared by the secretary of the Interior. Experts believe that will occur within the next five to seven years if the drought conditions continue.

If Tucson is not using its entire CAP allocation, there is a chance that we could lose access to the unused portion. It is urgent that we store as much of our CAP water as we can for the future.

Mayor and council recently adopted the Tucson Water Financial Plan, which was developed cooperatively with the Citizens' Water Advisory Committee, comprised of 15 volunteers who represent Tucson Water customers, both within and outside the city limits. The committee unanimously supported the plan.

The financial plan requires a 6.2 percent revenue increase, which the City Council must approve. A public hearing will be held on June 5, when all customers will have an opportunity to provide input about the proposed rate increase.

The average Tucson Water customer who uses about 12 CCFs per month (a CCF is 100 cubic feet, or 748 gallons) will see an increase of about $1 per month, with higher users paying more — in keeping with our conservation-oriented rate structure.

It is essential that Tucson plans for its future water needs. This financial plan is an integral part of that. Storing water now is an important planning tool to ensure a long-term water supply for our region.