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 7.2-8. Effluent generation including facility ownership, location, population served and not served, volume treated, disposal method and treatment level is shown in Table 7.2-9. Figure 7.2-10 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 demands is found in Section 7.0.7. 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
- Refer to Table 7.2-8 and Figure 7.2-10.
- Population in this basin decreased from 3,437 in 1980 to 4,256 in 2000.
- Most cultural water use is for irrigation in the northern portion of the basin.
- Agricultural groundwater demand increased 18% and surface water demand decreased 25% from 1991 to 2005.
- There was no reported industrial groundwater demand prior to 2003. In 2003 the Gila River Power Plant and the Citrus Valley Dairy began operation. The Painted Rock Dairy began operation in 2004. Total average water demand for the three uses was 4,700 acre-feet per year from 2003-2005.
- Municipal groundwater demand is small and increased 18% from 1991 to 2005.
- As of 2005 there were 146 registered wells with a pumping capacity of less than or equal to 35 gallons per minute and 391 wells with a pumping capacity of more than 35 gallons per minute.
Effluent Generation
- Refer to Table 7.2-9.
- There are four wastewater treatment facilities in this basin.
- Information on population served was available for three facilities and information on the volume of effluent generated was available for two facilities. These facilities serve almost 4,900 people, 3,400 of which are at the Lewis Prison, and generate almost 800 acre-feet of effluent per year.
- Effluent is discharged to evaporation ponds and a watercourse and is not reused.
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Table 7.2-8 Cultural Water Demand in the Gila Bend Basin

Table 7.2-9 Effluent Generation in the Gila Bend Basin

Figure 7.2-10 Gila Bend Basin Cultural Water Demand |