Goodyear's Water Sources and Groundwater FAQ's
The city of Goodyear takes water management very seriously. The city is proactive and has a solid plan to provide residents and businesses with water for generations. The information below answers some of the most common water questions the city receives.
How does the city get water?
The city of Goodyear manages a diverse and resilient water portfolio. This means that it gets water from different sources, which allows for responsible growth. Goodyear utilizes both groundwater and surface water, which are treated and delivered to customers through a vast network of pipes and infrastructure.
- One source is groundwater. The city of Goodyear has been allotted a groundwater allocation by the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and is permitted to pump groundwater. The groundwater pumped by the city resides in the West Salt River Valley and not the Hassayampa sub-basin.
- The city also has surface water, which comes from the Colorado River and is delivered by the Central Arizona Project (CAP). Goodyear receives its CAP water allocation and treats it at the Surface Water Treatment Plant (SWTP). The SWTP can produce up to 7.5 million gallons of water a day, and with future expansion, has the ability to produce 16 million gallons.
- Reclaimed water is an important component of Goodyear's water portfolio. The city of Goodyear treats wastewater to the highest quality to produce A+ reclaimed water, the highest class of reclaimed water, which is suitable for many non-potable or non-drinking uses, such as watering grass.
- Additionally, the city actively recharges the aquifer by sending treated effluent to a Soil Aquifer Treatment facility. This provides needed recharged water to the aquifer and stores water underground for future needs.
What will happen if cuts are made to the city’s Colorado River supply?
The Colorado River Basin has been in a prolonged drought and has seen drastic declines as a result of overallocation of water supply. Every water user in all sectors within each Basin state must commit to durable reductions in the future. Goodyear has been preparing for different Colorado River shortage scenarios and will continue to methodically and proactively plan for the future. While water use restrictions are not in place for Goodyear, it’s always smart to use just the water you need. As Arizonans, we need to recognize that with less Colorado River water in the future, water-wise changes in lifestyle can positively impact how our communities manage water.
What is the city doing to get more water?
Goodyear is part of the regional and state efforts to ensure that we have strong and stable water supplies to support long-term sustainable growth. Goodyear continues to look for innovative and attainable solutions that augment our water supplies by:
- Preparing for the worst-case scenario and every scenario in between.
- Analyzing infrastructure needs to ensure water can be moved where needed.
- Optimizing treatment facilities and access to other water supplies.
- Strategically planning to strengthen the reliability and resiliency of diverse water supplies, including analyzing technologies such as Direct Potable Reuse (DPR).
- Expanding conservation programs and customer outreach.
Is there enough water for the city to continue to grow?
The city holds a state issued Designation of Assured Water supply, which guarantees 100 years of water for existing development and committed development. That means, each vacant piece of land in Goodyear has an allocation of projected water. Properly managing water resources and investing in Goodyear’s water future has long been a priority for the city. Goodyear currently has the water resources to sustain existing demands and projected growth identified within our Designation of Assured Water Supply (DAWS).
How can residents help save water?
Goodyear is one of the most water efficient communities in the Valley. Residents on average do very well at efficiently using their water and this helps keep overall demands down, allowing the city greater opportunities in managing growth. Here are three things you can do in your home to help use water more efficiently:
- Water your established desert plants once a week in the summer at night or very early in the morning.
- Check for leaks both inside and outside the home by seeing if your water meter shows movement when you’re not using any water.
- Install a rain-pause device for your irrigation timer to save hundreds of gallons of water.
Explore this page for more water saving tips, including additional water conservation programs, classes and services offered to residents.
Link to Goodyear's Drought Preparedness Plan.
