Water Committee

Our mission is to promote practices and policies that conserve and replenish our water resources, provide a sustainable water supply, and restore the native desert ecosystem by working in harmony with the natural water cycle.

No issue is more critical in the Sonoran Desert than water. With the threat of Colorado River water reductions looming, we need solutions to our water issues such as conservation and rainwater harvesting. This committee would address these issues through public education, representing Sustainable Tucson as Water Ambassadors at various organizations, and advocating with the City of Tucson, Pima County, and State of Arizona on sound water policies.

Some people think that there is no water in Tucson. But there are seasons when our desert has an overabundance. In the winter months, there is snow on some of the five mountain ranges that surround Tucson. In the spring, icy water bounds down the Catalina Mountains into rushing rivers and streams. During Monsoon season, our washes rage and overflow… Read more of the Story of Tucson’s Water.

The Water Committee hosted the ¡Agua es Vida! Celebration of Water in the Desert and Short Film Showcase on 16 September 2023. This collaboration between Sustainable Tucson, Watershed Management Group, and The Loft Cinema educated and inspired Tucsonans about the challenges and possibilities of water in Southern Arizona.

Another project we worked on was an information sheet to provide facts and considerations about the strategies that Tucson Water is proposing to secure our water future – so people could make informed decisions on the One Water survey. We’re proud to announce that 425 people visited the site before the deadline! 

Members of our committee also represented Sustainable Tucson at the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan community event where we advocated for revising the Landscaping Ordinance so it is in sync with the city’s Green Stormwater Infrastructure policy (especially in regard to native plants) and updating the Commercial Rainwater Harvesting Ordinance so it is more effective. If you have a passion for water and are ready to roll up your sleeves and work on water security, we would love to have you in this committee.

Contact: Jana@sustainabletucson.org.