Cultural Water Demand in the Kanab Plateau 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 6.3-8.  Effluent generation including facility ownership, location, population served and not served, volume treated, disposal method and treatment level is shown in Table 6.3-9.  Figure 6.3-11 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 6.0.7.  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 6.3-8 and Figure 6.3-11.

• Population in this basin increased from 2,815 in 1980 to 6,233 in 2000 and is projected to reach 14,688 by 2030. 

• Groundwater demand has decreased in this basin and was less than 2,600 acre-feet in 2001-2005.

  Groundwater is used for both municipal and agricultural demand.  Municipal and agricultural demand centers are located in the vicinity of Fredonia, Colorado City, Moccasin and Kaibab.

• Data on surface water use prior to 1991 is not available.  The table includes approximately 600 acre-feet of surface water diverted from Roaring Spring in this basin for use at the Grand Canyon South Rim in the Coconino Plateau Basin.  Less than 1,000 acre-feet of water is diverted from Kanab Creek for agriculture in the Fredonia area.

• As of 2009 there were no active mines in the basin, however, exploration for uranium is  on going.

• As of 2005 there were 220 registered wells with a pumping capacity of less than or equal to 35 gpm and 119 wells with a pumping capacity of more than 35 gpm.

Effluent Generation

• Refer to Table 6.3-9.

• There are five wastewater treatment facilities in this basin.

• Information on population served was available for two facilities and information on effluent generation was available for four facilities.  These facilities serve almost 2,900 people and generate over 400 acre-feet of effluent per year.   At one time Colorado City operated a wastewater treatment facility that served over 5,000 people and generated 403 acre-feet per year.  The plant closed in 2002 and Colorado City now sends sewage to Hildale, Utah for treatment.

• Of the four facilities with information on the effluent disposal method: one discharges to evaporation ponds; two discharge for irrigation; and one discharges to unlined impoundments that recharge the aquifer.

Click for Table 6.3-9 Effluent Generation in the

Kanab Plateau Basin

Click for Figure 6.3-11 Kanab Plateau Basin

Cultural Water Demand

Arizona Water Atlas Home

Western Plateau Planning Area Home