Chandler’s Preparations for Water Shortage
Over the last forty years, Chandler has invested in a strong and resilient water resources portfolio. The city has secured sufficient water supplies to meet all current demands, as well as future projected demands for 100 years. We have proactively developed a diverse water supply and stored over 500,000 Acre Feet (AF) of water in our underground aquifer to be used during times of shortage. Chandler is prepared and has taken the following actions:
- Diverse water supplies (Salt/Verde Rivers, Colorado River, groundwater, reclaimed water)
- Robust water conservation programs, rebates, incentives and ordinances
- Investment in two surface water treatment plants and two wastewater treatment plants
- Investment in the Reclaimed Water Interconnect Facility to improve local aquifer recharge
- Underground storage of more than 500,000 acre-feet of long-term storage credits
- Reclaimed water system allows for 95% reuse
- Redundancy – 32+ drinking water wells provide resiliency
- Large water user ordinance
- Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) to reduce water loss
- Turf-to-Xeriscape projects to reduce city water use for landscaping non-functional grass
- Free water budgeting software available to all HOAs, multi-family and commercial customers
Chandler’s Water Supply
The city’s primary water supply comes from the Salt and Verde Rivers, delivered by Salt River Project (SRP) canals. Chandler also holds long-term contracts for Colorado River water, delivered by Central Arizona Project (CAP) canals. The city has invested in long-term water rights for high-priority Colorado River water and partnered with the Gila River Indian Community to exchange reclaimed water for additional Colorado River supplies. During a surface water shortage, Chandler will rely on alternate surface water supplies and/or pump wells to recover water that has been stored underground.
Chandler’s Infrastructure Investments
Chandler actively maintains more than thirty groundwater wells and has constructed the water treatment plants and distribution systems needed to treat and deliver water from both the SRP and CAP systems. The city’s water treatment plants allow Chandler to primarily rely on surface water supplies. However, we also use our wells for operational flexibility and to meet peak demand in the summer. Chandler’s wells provide additional resiliency during a water shortage. Chandler serves reclaimed water to roughly 400 connections in South Chandler, with primary uses for irrigation, industrial cooling or aquifer recharge.
Over the past thirty years, we have invested in two regional recharge facilities and constructed three more aquifer recharge facilities owned and operated by the city. These investments ensure sufficient recharge capacity to store water underground when extra supplies are available and recovery capacity to pump that water from underground during times of shortage. In 2024, Chandler constructed the Reclaimed Water Interconnect Facility (RWIF), a new membrane treatment facility, to treat SRP and CAP water and convey that treated water to one of Chandler’s three aquifer recharge facilities. Collectively, these investments have allowed the city to be recognized as one of the most sustainable and resilient water providers in Arizona.
Drought Preparedness Plan Implementation
This Drought Preparedness Plan details the steps Chandler will take during a surface water shortage and the shortage triggers that will cause the city to transition from one stage to the next. The Water Resources Manager will monitor hydrologic conditions, review current customer demands, and present updates to City Council when conditions indicate the next stage may be triggered. This presentation will include a briefing on the anticipated water availability for the upcoming year, the objective of declaring the next drought stage and proposed actions for consideration.
During each stage of this Drought Preparedness Plan, our quarterly Drought Team will continue to meet. This group includes leaders across different city departments, who work collaboratively to ensure all internal and external stakeholders receive timely communication regarding the actions which may impact their unique responsibilities. Drought stages expire a year after being declared, or January 1st of the next normal water supply year.
This plan includes expanded messaging to keep our customers updated on the current water supply conditions, describe the actions taken to reduce municipal water use within city facilities and encourage voluntary water conservation in the community. Mandatory water restrictions will be implemented if a surface water shortage reduces supplies by more than 70%, or available supplies are insufficient to meet projected demand.
The following guidelines will be used:
- City water use will be reduced prior to requesting water reductions from the community.
- The community will be proactively informed of the city’s water supply condition.
- Proposed actions will be designed to achieve water reductions with minimal impact on the local economy.
- Each stage of the plan will cease when supplies are adequate to meet the following year’s projected demands.
- Reclaimed water users will be required to reduce use during a severe surface water shortage.
- Drought stages expire one year after being declared, or January 1st of the next normal water supply year.
Drought Stages
There are four stages in this plan. Each stage is based on the severity of water supply conditions and the city’s ability to meet projected demand. The Water Resources Manager will monitor hydrologic conditions, evaluate anticipated water supply availability for the upcoming year and present to City Council with recommendations regarding the appropriate stage and proposed actions for the upcoming year. Drought stages expire a year after being declared, or January 1st of the next normal water supply year.
Stage One
The Water Resource Manager may declare Stage One when a water shortage is predicted. Chandler’s water resources staff monitors the precipitation and water storage levels of the Colorado, Salt, and Verde watersheds. A reduction in water supplies can be predicted several months prior to the actual announcement of the reduction. In stage one, Chandler is capable of meeting demand through remaining surface water supplies and groundwater wells.
Stage Two
The Public Works & Utilities Director may declare Stage Two when a surface water shortage occurs reducing supplies by more than 20%.
At this stage, Chandler is capable of meeting demand through its remaining surface water supplies. Stage Two will implement a mandatory reduction to municipal water use within city facilities.
Stage Three
The City Manager may declare Stage Three when surface water supplies are reduced by more than 50%. At this stage, Chandler is capable of meeting demand through its remaining surface water supplies and groundwater wells. Stage Three will require the city to use its groundwater reserves and recover water that has been stored underground. Education and public awareness programs will be implemented to encourage voluntary reductions in water use among all water users.
Stage Four
The City Council may declare Stage Four if the Public Works & Utilities Director determines the city’s water supplies are not sufficient to meet the following year’s demand or surface water supplies are reduced by more than 70%.
The water delivery reductions in Stage Four will require the city to use a large amount of its groundwater reserves. Mandatory water restrictions will be designed to reduce the peak summer demand.
Chandler’s Water Conservation Programs
Chandler has a long history of commitment to water conservation education with the first programs implemented in 1990. Chandler’s conservation programs include financial incentives such as grass removal rebates and water efficiency technology rebates. The city offers free water audits, free water budgeting software, on-site water efficiency evaluations for customers with cooling towers, water saver kits and low-water-use landscaping guides. Chandler hosts a two-day water festival for Chandler 4th graders each year to learn about groundwater, the water cycle, our watershed and water conservation.
Water Conservation & Large Water User Ordinances
Chandler was the first city to adopt a large water user ordinance in 2015 (Ord. No. 4634, 5-28-15; Ord. No. 5117, § 1, 3-24-25). The city requires all new construction must install water-efficient plumbing fixtures (Chapter 29-4 adopting International Plumbing Code) and restrict the amount of water intensive landscaping (Chapter 35-1903 (6)(a). Chandler city code requires all new developments select low-water-use plants, site designs comply with xeriscape design principles, including a limitation on installation of non-functional grass in new developments (Chapter 35-1903 (5)(a).