Mesa's water team went to the City Council this month with a briefing on a Colorado River that is still low and a city that has to plan for getting less of it. The briefing put Lake Mead at 27% full and Lake Powell at 23%, and walked through the federal Record of Decision adopted in August 2026 that sets river operating rules from 2027 on: a 1.25 million acre-foot cut across the Lower Basin each year, with Arizona's share at 760,000 acre-feet. Mesa gets about 45% of its water from the Colorado River through the Central Arizona Project, and the presentation's conclusion was that Mesa must keep preparing for less certainty in its river supply.

In the West Valley, Avondale's Sustainability Commission had a presentation on the newest Colorado River water cuts and where the city stands on its agenda. Tolleson's council took up a temporary price of $275 per acre-foot for the treated wastewater it sells to Arizona Public Service and Salt River Project to cool power plants in 2026 and 2027. Scottsdale's work study agenda, meanwhile, listed a presentation and possible direction on a large water user ordinance.

Phoenix's formal meeting agenda carried a stack of water items, including a land use license with the Central Arizona Water Conservation District for a city water line and a second one for a companion line, both in District 2. Also on the list were engineering services and construction manager at risk services for finished-water upgrades at the Union Hills Water Treatment Plant, an amendment extending engineering support for water treatment plant job order contracts citywide, an EPCOR agreement on ending water service and sharing usage data for shared customers, and an amendment to the city's water agreement with Tolleson to divert, treat, transport and provide emergency backup water.

The same agenda carried general obligation bond funding for Laveen Flood Mitigation Program engineering in Districts 7 and 8, easements for Lift Station 40 in District 6, and improvements at solid waste facilities across several districts. Scottsdale's regular agenda called for a contract of no more than $8,085,461.26 with Ames Construction for a bridge on Thompson Peak Parkway over the Reata Pass Wash, and Mesa is set to buy a replacement sewer-cleaning and vacuum truck and a new sewer line inspection truck. Avondale's commission also had an update on sustainability in Avondale on its agenda; taken together, the week's items are mostly about stretching, storing and protecting the water the region already has while the Colorado River stays low.

Stay Informed

Mesa City Council — September 17, 2026

  • Hear a presentation and discussion on Mesa's Water Supplies including Mesa's water portfolio, recent federal action (Bureau of Reclamation Record of Decision and Operating Guidelines), Colorado River supplies, and future investments.: Council heard a full briefing on Mesa's water supply: about 45% of the city's water comes from the Colorado River through the Central Arizona Project, and the presentation put Lake Mead at 27% full and Lake Powell at 23%. It walked through the federal Record of Decision adopted Aug. 21, 2026, which sets 2027–2036 operating rules with a 1.25 million acre-foot Lower Basin reduction in 2027–2028, Arizona's share at 760,000 acre-feet a year, and said Mesa must keep preparing for less certain river supplies. View item

City Council — September 22, 2026

  • Adopt Resolution No. 2664 of the Mayor and Council of the City of Tolleson, Arizona, approving the First Amendment to the Agreement for the Sale and Purchase of Wastewater Effluent between the City of Tolleson, Arizona, Arizona Public Service Company, and Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, establishing a temporary price of $275.00 per acre-foot for effluent sold and delivered during calendar years 2026 and 2027, and authorizing the Mayor to execute and deliver said Amendment. (Utilities Department): Tolleson's council took up Resolution No. 2664, the first amendment to the city's 2000 wastewater effluent agreement with Arizona Public Service and Salt River Project, setting a temporary price of $275 per acre-foot for effluent sold and delivered in 2026 and 2027. The price expires automatically Dec. 31, 2027 unless both sides extend it in writing, and staff recommended adoption. View item

Scottsdale City Council — September 22, 2026

  • Receipt of Citizen Petitions: The item text also carries the Work Study Session agenda, which listed a presentation, discussion and possible direction to staff on creating a large water user ordinance. The presenters named were Thyra Ryden-Diaz, Water Resources interim senior director, Erin Perrault, planning and development services senior director, and Kevin Burke, economic development and tourism senior director. View item
  • Construction Services Contract for Bond 2019 Project 62 – Build a Bridge on Thompson Peak Parkway Over Reata Pass Wash to Improve Safety: The council agenda called for adopting Resolution No. 13778, authorizing Contract No. 27IBF097 with Ames Construction, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $8,085,461.26 to build a bridge on Thompson Peak Parkway over the Reata Pass Wash, and letting the city manager or designee execute related documents. View item

Phoenix City Council — September 23, 2026

  • Amendment to the Intergovernmental Agreement with City of Tolleson to Divert, Treat and Transport and Provide Emergency Backup Water (Ordinance S-53204) - Out of City: On the formal meeting agenda: an amendment to Phoenix's intergovernmental agreement with Tolleson (Ordinance S-53204) to divert, treat and transport water and to provide emergency backup water. The item is designated out of city. View item
  • Laveen Flood Mitigation Program - Engineering Services - ST83140144 (General Obligation Bond) (Ordinance S-53223) - Districts 7 & 8: On the formal meeting agenda: engineering services for the Laveen Flood Mitigation Program (ST83140144, Ordinance S-53223), funded with general obligation bonds, in Districts 7 and 8. The program is flood mitigation capital work. View item
  • Central Arizona Water Conservation District Land Use License CAWCD #2026-019 Water Line for the City of Phoenix (Ordinance S-53212) - District 2: On the formal meeting agenda: a land use license with the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD #2026-019, Ordinance S-53212) for a city water line in District 2. View item
  • Central Arizona Water Conservation District Land Use License CAWCD #2026-020 Water Line for the City of Phoenix (Ordinance S-53213) - District 2: On the formal meeting agenda too: a land use license with the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD #2026-020, Ordinance S-53213) for a second city water line in District 2. View item
  • Union Hills Water Treatment Plant Finished Water Improvements - Engineering Services - WS85050052 (Ordinance S-53188) - District 2: On the formal meeting agenda: engineering services (WS85050052, Ordinance S-53188) for finished water improvements at the Union Hills Water Treatment Plant in District 2. View item
  • Union Hills Water Treatment Plant - Finished Water Improvements - Construction Manager at Risk Services - WS85050052 (Ordinance S-53189) - District 2: On the formal meeting agenda: construction manager at risk services (WS85050052, Ordinance S-53189) for the same Union Hills Water Treatment Plant finished water improvements in District 2. View item
  • Water Treatment Plants Job Order Contract Engineering Support Services Amendment - WS85400001, WS85230054 and WS85350009 (Ordinance S-53202) - Citywide: On the formal meeting agenda: an amendment to job order contract engineering support for the city's water treatment plants under contracts WS85400001, WS85230054 and WS85350009 (Ordinance S-53202), citywide. View item
  • EPCOR Agreement to Terminate Water Service and Provide Water Consumption Information of Shared Customers (Ordinance S-53194) - Out of City: On the formal meeting agenda: an agreement with EPCOR (Ordinance S-53194) covering termination of water service and water consumption information for shared customers. The item is designated out of city. View item
  • Grant of Three Public Utility Easements for Lift Station 40 (Ordinance S-53190) - District 6: On the formal meeting agenda: a grant of three public utility easements for Lift Station 40 (Ordinance S-53190) in District 6. View item
  • Solid Waste Facilities Improvements - Job Order Contracting Services Amendments - 4108JOC221 (Ordinance S-53191) - Districts 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and Out of City: On the formal meeting agenda: amendments to job order contracting services for solid waste facilities improvements under contract 4108JOC221 (Ordinance S-53191), affecting Districts 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and out of city. View item

Avondale Sustainability Commission — September 23, 2026

  • UPDATES FROM THE COLORADO RIVER SHORTAGE – COLE PIHL, AVONDALE WATER RESOURCE MANAGER: Listed on the Sustainability Commission agenda: a presentation by Avondale Water Resource Manager Cole Pihl on the most recent updates on Colorado River water cuts and Avondale's position. The item says the commission will receive the presentation. View item
  • SUSTAINABILITY UPDATES: An update to the commission on sustainability in Avondale. The item is for discussion only. View item

Mesa City Council — September 28, 2026

  • Use of a Cooperative Contract for the Purchase of One Sewer-Cleaning and Vacuum Truck (Replacement) for the Fleet Services and Water Resources Departments (Citywide): Mesa would buy one AquaStar combination sewer-cleaning and vacuum truck through the HGACBuy cooperative contract with Kaiser Premier, LLC for no more than $965,700, replacing vehicle #916. The truck clears grease, sediment and debris from sewer mains, storm drains, catch basins, lift stations and wet wells, helps with sewer backups and flooding, and recycles water on board. View item
  • Use of a Cooperative Contract for the Purchase of One Sewer Line Inspection Truck (Addition) for the Fleet Services and Water Resources Departments (Citywide): Mesa would add one Ford E-450 sewer line inspection truck through the Sourcewell cooperative contract with Dawson Infrastructure Solutions, LLC, a Mesa business, for no more than $701,800. The truck carries a remote camera system to inspect sewer lines, judge pipe conditions and find problems under city streets. View item