PowerPoint Presentation (Updated 5/6/22)

Water Resources Update
Glendale Water Services - May 10, 2022

For information and discussion:
Overview of the Colorado River Conditions
Overview of the Salt River Project Water Resources
Next Steps
Drought Management
Conservation Tools
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Outline

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Glendale’s Water Resources
Central Arizona Project
Salt River Project          
One water for Glendale’s Water Service Area
Groundwater
We use these sources throughout our service area 
Effluent
(East of 115th Avenue)
CAP
SRP
Ground-
Water
Effluent

Water Resources

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Overview of Colorado River Conditions
The long-term drought has led to the following:
Aridification of the Western U.S. which is accelerating shortages. 
The Colorado River now has a new estimated total yield of 10 to 
11 million acre-feet (MAF) instead of 16.5 MAF.
Historic low water levels in Lake Powell and Lake Mead.
Lower water transfers from Lake Powell into Lake Mead.
Uncertainty about power production at both Hoover and Glen 
Canyon Dams.

Overview of Colorado River Conditions
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May 2021
May 2021
Current May 2022 Conditions
1,056’
3,522’
32%  8.3 MAF
24%,  5.8 MAF

Water Resources Update 
April 24-Month Study
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Bureau of Reclamation’s 2022 April 24-month study shows:
Lake Mead will be in Tier 2a or greater shortage starting on January 1, 2023.
A Tier 2a shortage:
Reduces Arizona’s Colorado River supply by an additional 80,000 acre-feet of water 
Total Arizona supply reduction to 592,000 acre-feet 
Projects Lake Powell will be at Minimum Power Pool (no energy production) in              
March 2023 
Does not reduce Glendale’s Colorado River Supply  
Lake Mead and Lake Powell water levels predicted to continue to drop. 
Study shows possible deeper Shortage Tiers in 2024.

To help protect Lake Powell water levels and energy production:
U.S. Secretary of the Interior will transfer 7 million acre-feet (instead of 7.48 
million acre-feet) of water from Lake Powell to Lake Mead in 2022 
Will transfer water from upstream dams to Lake Powell 
Reduction in volume transferred from Lake Powell negatively affects 
water levels in Lake Mead.
Both the Arizona Department of Water Resources and the Central 
Arizona Project have indicated that bigger future cuts are coming.
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Interior Department Actions Being Taken

Arizona, California, and Nevada’s 500 Plus Plan (Compensated 
Conservation):
The plan saves up to 500,000 acre-feet of water in Lake Mead in 2022
Glendale’s participation was discussed at the 1/25/2022 Workshop
Voting tonight on Glendale’s participation – 350 acre-feet of water
Arizona is working within the Drought Contingency Plan 
guidelines. 
Conserve water in both reservoirs to help sustain water levels 
above critical levels.  
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Actions Being Taken

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Salt River Project (SRP) Reservoirs
• Salt River reservoirs are currently 77% full.
• Verde River reservoirs are currently 33% full.
• Total system is 72% full.  Last year at this                                  
time, the system was 75% full. 
• Monsoon season helped but winter runoff needed to fill 
reservoirs.
• For 2022, more SRP groundwater will be used for delivery.

Glendale’s water portfolio remains secure but must continue 
to prepare for accelerating and sustained shortage 
conditions.
AMWUA, along with Glendale, are revising messaging to 
proactively transition with changing conditions.
Long-term adaptation – looking beyond the next few years 
Explain the seriousness of the situation
Remind customers that we are not running out of water
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Next Steps

With support of City Council and management, Glendale is preparing 
for water shortages by:
Drilling new groundwater wells for resiliency and redundancy
Interconnect projects with Peoria and Phoenix 
Working with the Salt River Project on new water supply projects 
Conservation and adaptability projects
Glendale has a strong water portfolio.  Glendale has stored over 4½ 
years of supply underground for future use.  
We will continue to message, plan, and implement. 
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Summary

13
Questions

Drought Management

Drought Management Plan Overview
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It’s a plan to prepare and respond to 
water shortages.
Water reduction measures for the City 
and external customers.
In the City Code – Chapter 33.
Updated to correspond with surface 
water supply shortages.
Continue to update plan as needed.

Drought Stages 
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Drought stages are based on water 
supply reductions.
Water supply and demand may 
change, so there is flexibility in the 
drought stage triggers.
Stages 1 & 2: Declared by City 
Manager.
Stages 3 & 4: Declared by City 
Council.
Drought Stages
Stage 0 Normal
Stage 1 Watch
Stage 2 Alert
Stage 3 Declaration
Stage 4 Emergency

Drought Management Team 
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Led by the Water Services Department
Consists of an executive team and an implementation team
Coordinate and communicate internally and externally
Lead by example
Meet water reduction goals

Water Use Dashboard for City Facilities
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600,000K
400,000K
200,000K
0K
Average Water Use
5 to 10%
10 to 15%
15 to 20%

Drought Communications Plan
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Drought Preparedness webpage
City’s communication channels
Press release
Social media
Clean & Green calendar
Water Quality report
Internal communications with City 
staff:
Environmental Summit
Fact sheet for City employees

Timeline
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Ongoing: Maintain communication with partners and 
stakeholders.
June 2022: Activate the City’s Drought Management Team.
August 2022: Review the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s 24-
month study.
September 1, 2022:  Declaration of Stage 1 (Watch) of the 
City’s Drought Management Plan
January 1, 2023: Enact Stage 2 (Alert) of the City’s Drought 
Management Plan if a Tier 2B shortage is declared.

Water Demand & Population
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 200,000
 210,000
 220,000
 230,000
 240,000
 -
 10,000
 20,000
 30,000
 40,000
 50,000
 60,000
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
Population
Acre-feet
 Demand
 Population

Landscape Rebate and Water Budget Program
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Landscape Rebate 
incentivizes the 
conversion of unwanted 
grass to xeriscape.
Landscape Water 
Budget dashboard for 
City properties and 
HOAs.

Water Efficiency Assessments
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Free service for customers to help 
identify leaks and other 
inefficiencies.
18 city facilities, 2.4 million 
gallons of water
26 businesses, 16.7 million 
gallons of water

Water Use Calculators
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Arizona Municipal Water Users 
Association online Water Use 
Calculator
Glendale’s online Water Savings 
Calculator

Grants
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APS grant for Residential Conservation Kits
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation WaterSmart grant for Landscape 
Irrigation Technology Incentives

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Questions