PowerPoint Presentation

Water Resources Update
Glendale Water Services – September 27, 2022

For information and discussion:
Activities since May 2022 Workshop
2021 Glendale Water Use
Overview of Conditions for the Salt River Project System
Overview of Colorado River Conditions
Water Resource Plans for Shortage
Next Steps
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Outline

Completed
– Evaluated feasibility of hydrant flushing recirculating truck
– Provided a Green Living class on gray water on 9/10
Ongoing
– Monitoring ADEQ’s direct potable reuse rulemaking process
Future Workshop(s)
– Researching potential water policies and ordinances, such as 
for new business/industry, building codes and gray water use
Water Resources Activities Since May 2022
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Later In Today’s Workshop
– Updates to existing rebate program, including artificial turf
– New incentives, such as leak detection technology for cooling towers
Ongoing
– Improving water efficiency of City facilities/operations
– Promoting the Glendale Water Efficiency Program for businesses
– Continuing to evaluate costs and revenues
Future Workshop(s)
– Researching potential conservation policies and ordinances
Conservation Activities since May 2022
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June 17, 2022 - Implemented 
Stage 1 Drought Watch of the 
City’s Drought Management 
Plan
Mandatory water reduction 
measures for City facilities/ 
operations with a 5% 
reduction goal
Voluntary water reduction 
measures for residents and 
businesses
Drought Management
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For residents and businesses in Glendale water service area:

Status of City’s Efforts
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Monthly meetings 
oDrought Implementation Team
oDrought Executive Team
For July 2022, the estimated 
water reductions for City 
facilities/operations was 4.8% 
or almost 4.3 million gallons
Water 
Reduction 
Goal
Annual Water 
Savings
Stage 1
5%
32,259,000
Stage 2
10%
64,518,000
Stage 3
15%
96,777,000
Stage 4
20%
129,035,000
For City Facilities and Operations:

Water Resources

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2021 Glendale Water Use
GW
2,763 AF
6%
SRP
18,670 AF
44%
CAP 
21,806 AF
50%
2021 Water Use (acre-feet)
Total 2021 Potable Water Use: 
43,239 acre-feet
Central Arizona Project (CAP) - 50%
Salt River Project (SRP) - 44%
Groundwater (GW) - 6%

2012 to 2021 Potable Water Use 
 -
 5,000
 10,000
 15,000
 20,000
 25,000
 30,000
 35,000
 40,000
 45,000
 50,000
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Acre-feet
Total Potable Water Use 2012 - 2021 
Water use has 
remained stable and 
averages about 43,000 
acre-feet/year.
We expect the water 
demand to decrease 
with conservation and 
enacting the Drought 
Management Plan.
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Salt River Project (SRP) Reservoirs
Salt River reservoirs are currently 68% full.
Verde River reservoirs are currently 30% full.
Total system is 63% full.  Last year, at this time, 
the total system was 67% full. 
2022 monsoon season has been good.
For 2023, more SRP groundwater is anticipated to be used for delivery.
We will continue to monitor winter precipitation and reservoir.

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Overview of Colorado River Conditions
Reservoir conditions have quickly deteriorated.
Both Lake Mead and Lake Powell water levels 
are expected to continue to decline in 2023. 
Declines due to dry conditions in the 
watershed combined with demands 
exceeding supplies.
The Bureau of Reclamation has the authority to                 
intervene and help stabilize reservoir levels and power 
production.

Water Resources Update 
Timeline of Activities in the Basin
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Actions by the Federal Government and Basin States:
• June 2019 - Drought Contingency Plan
• January 2022 - 500 Plus Plan
• March 2022 - Conservation in Lake Powell of 500,000 acre-feet
• June 2022 - Announcement of possible 2 to 4 million acre-feet of    
conservation in Lake Mead for 2023
• August 16, 2022- Deadline for Basin States Plan for reduction of 2 to 4 
million acre-feet 
• August 16, 2022 - Release of August 24-month study
• Uncertain Future Date - Actions by Federal Government to obtain                   
needed conservation

Water Resources Update 
August 24-Month Study
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On August 16, 2022, Bureau of Reclamation released the August 24-
month study:
o Lake Mead will be in Tier 2a shortage starting on January 1, 2023 
o Water levels will be between elevation 1045 feet to 1050 feet
A Tier 2a shortage:
o Reduces Arizona’s Colorado River supply by an additional 80,000 acre-feet (3 percent)  
o Total Arizona supply reduction of 592,000 acre-feet (21 percent) for 2023
o Glendale’s Colorado River supplies reduced by less than 1% (under 200 acre-feet)
2024 predictions are showing a Tier 3 or deeper shortage.

Lake Mead August 24-Month Study
Tier 0 - Elevation 1,090 feet
Tier 1 – Elevation 1,075 feet
Tier 2a – Elevation 1,050 feet
Tier 2b – Elevation 1,045 feet
Tier 3 – Elevation 1,025 feet
Drought Contingency Plan 
(DCP) Shortage Tiers
Starting on 
January 1, 2023, 
we will be in a 
Tier 2a shortage 
between elevation 
1,050 and 1,045 
feet.
Starting on 
January 1, 2024, 
we may be in a 
Tier 3 shortage 
as shown on the 
graph.
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Lake Mead
Projected 
Water Level 
at the end 
of 2023
about 1,041 ft
The Bureau of 
Reclamation states the 
critical water level 
elevation for Lake Mead 
is at 1,020 feet.  This 
gives 70 feet of buffer 
until power generation 
stops.
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Lake Powell
Projected 
Water Level 
at the end of 
2023
3,520 ft
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The Bureau of Reclamation 
states the critical water 
level elevation for Lake 
Powell is at 3,525 feet. This 
gives 35 feet of buffer to 
minimize risk of dropping 
below the minimum power 
pool elevation of 3,490 feet.

Based on the August 24-month study, there will be a Tier 2a 
shortage for 2023 with small cuts to Glendale’s supply.
We are uncertain what the Federal Government will do to implement 
mandatory cuts in the supply of Colorado River water coming out of 
Lake Mead and when those cuts may take effect. 
We are prepared for any future cuts and will take a conservative 
operational approach with our Colorado River supply in 2023. 
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Colorado River Actions Being Taken

Water Services has developed water supply plans based on potential 
Colorado River cuts from 10 to 75 percent. 
The plans provide sufficient water supply based on average water 
demands over the last five years (approx. 43,000 acre-feet). 
The plans rely on groundwater, recovered water, and our New 
Conservation Space (NCS) water that is stored in Roosevelt Lake. 
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Glendale’s Operational Approach

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Glendale’s Plans for Colorado River Shortage
Operational 
Scenario*
CAP
SRP
Groundwater
Other Sources
(NCS, FCS, 
Credits)
Total 
Supply
Total 
Demand
Normal (no 
cuts to CAP)
22,582
18,500
3,000
0
44,082
43,000
20% Cut to 
CAP
17,929
22,000
3,000
1,000
43,929
43,000
50% Cut to 
CAP
11,206
22,000
4,000
6,500
43,706
43,000
75% Cut to 
CAP
5,603
22,000
4,100
13,000
43,703
43,000
* Table shows just a few of the possible operational scenarios.  Under each scenario, there is sufficient water             
supply to meet water demands.  Also, demands may decrease due to conservation measures.
All volumes are in acre-feet

Next Steps
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CAP water order is due on October 1. Glendale Water 
Water Services will use our water supply plans to meet
Continue to implement our Drought Management Plan. 
Continue to monitor Colorado River conditions.  
Services will order according to the cuts mandated 
by CAP and the Bureau of Reclamation.
potable water demands in our service area in 2023.

Continue to plan, prepare, and implement projects for a 
future with less Colorado River water.  
o Drilling new groundwater wells for resiliency and redundancy
o Working with the Salt River Project on new water supply projects 
o Continued conservation projects
Continue to strengthen our water conservation efforts and 
water savings programs for City facilities/operations, 
residents and businesses. 
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Continue to Plan and Prepare

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Questions?