Cultural Water Demand in the Verde River Basin

Cultural water demand data including population, number of wells and the average well pumpage and surface water diversions by the municipal, industrial and agricultural sectors are shown in Table 5.5-8.  Effluent generation including facility ownership, location, population served and not served, volume treated, disposal method and treatment level is shown in Table 5.5-9.  Figure 5.5-10 shows the location of demand centers.  A description of cultural water demand data sources and methods is found in Volume 1, Appendix A.  More detailed information on cultural water demand is found in Section 5.0.7.  For information on gpcd and annual water demand by individual community water systems in this basin see ADWR's Community Water System Program annual water use reporting summary.

Cultural Water Demands

  • Population in this basin has more than doubled from 36,049 in 1980 to 89,309 in 2000. 

  • In general, groundwater use has increased since 1971, from an average of 16,000 AFA in 1971-1975 to an average of 29,500 AFA in 2001-2005.

  • Total surface water diversions in this basin have decreased slightly from 18,000 AFA in 1971-1990 to 17,400 AFA in 2001-2005.

  • Municipal groundwater demand has increased from an average of 7,200 AFA in 1991-1995 to 15,200 AFA in 2001-2005.  Municipal surface water demand is about 600 AFA.

  • Industrial groundwater use has increased slightly from 3,100 AFA in 1991-1995 to 3,200 AFA in 2001-2005.  Industrial surface water use has remained a constant 800 AFA during this time.

  • Groundwater use for irrigation has increased from 8,100 AFA in 1991-1995 to 11,100 AFA in 2001-2005.  Most of the surface water use in the basin is for irrigation with 11,500 AFA in 1991-1995 and 16,000 AFA in 2001-2005.  The majority of the agricultural use is found along the Verde River.

  • Municipal and industrial demand centers are found primarily in the central portion of the basin.

  • There are two large mines, Clarkdale Cement and the closed United Verde copper mine, and two small mines or quarries located in the vicinity of Clarkdale and Jerome.  An additional small mine or quarry is located north of Sunflower.

  • As of 2005 there were 11,093 registered wells with a pumping capacity of less than or equal to 35 gpm and 1,659 wells with a pumping capacity of more than 35 gpm.

Effluent Generation

  • Refer to Table 5.5-9.

  • There are 27 wastewater treatment facilities in this basin.

  • Information on population served was available for 16 facilities and information on effluent generation was available for 17 facilities.  These facilities serve over 44,000 full-time residents and generate almost 6,200 acre-feet of effluent per year.

  • Of the 13 facilities with information on the effluent disposal method: five discharge to evaporation ponds; five discharge for golf or turf irrigation; six discharge to a watercourse; five discharge for irrigation; and two use other forms of effluent disposal.  In Payson, treated effluent is delivered to a 10.5 acre recreational lake where it is stored to irrigate turf and recharges the aquifer.  The Kachina Village WWTP discharges effluent to a wetland that is a wildlife area open to the public.

 

 

Click to view Table 5.5-8

Click to view Table 5.5-8 Cultural Water Demand in the Verde River Basin

Click to view Table 5.5-9

Click to view Table 5.5-9 Effluent Generation in the Verde River Basin

Click to view Figure 5.5-10

Click to view Figure 5.5-10 Verde River Basin

Cultural Water Demand

 

Arizona Water Atlas Home

Central Highlands Planning Area Home

Download pdf of entire Central Highlands Planning Area Download pdf of the Verde River Basin

References and Supplemental Reading for the Verde River Basin

Colorado River Central Highlands Planning Area Download entire Central Highlands Planning Area Atlas in pdf Verde River above Paulden Oak Creek