There are two (2) categories of water supplies within the City’s D&O: groundwater and alternative water (water that is the alternative to using PrAMA groundwater). Within the alternative water category, there are subcategories including: surface water, reclaimed water (treated effluent), and imported water (Big Chino sub-basin groundwater). These supplies are described below.

• Groundwater – the water supplies pumped from the groundwater aquifers within the PrAMA. Only lands within the City’s water service area that were recognized in 1999 to receive this water supply are entitled to connect to the City’s water system.
• Alternative Water – the water supplies that are the alternative to pumping additional groundwater supplies from the PrAMA, including surface water, reclaimed water (treated effluent), and imported groundwater. These supplies are the backbone for meeting the State’s intent to transition communities into recharge and recovery practices and therefore reducing groundwater overdraft.
  • Surface water: various surface water supply projects have supported Prescott since territorial times but, now the City relies upon the water secured by the acquisition of Watson and Willow Lake Reservoirs and their associated water rights.
    • The reservoirs were purchased in 1998 with a community approved bond and the acquisition of these water rights occurred through a State document known as a Sever and Transfer of Water Right  (S&T).
    • State law recognizes the surface water for assured water supply purposes, and the City holds permits for the recharge and recovery of this water supply.
  • Reclaimed water (treated effluent): the City has been producing reclaimed water supplies since the mid-1930’s when the first City wastewater treatment plant was constructed. The late 1980s is when the State began to develop recharge and recovery statutes and rules. Now, the City uses reclaimed supplies for turf watering and industrial use, and the remainder is “banked” in the City’s State defined long-term storage account.
    • These supplies were first recognized for assured water supply purposes in the City’s 1999 D&O.
    • Reclaimed supplies are currently recognized in the 2009 D & O as water supply used for direct delivery to turf and industrial facilities, annual recharge and recovery, and recharge that continues to be banked in the State defined long-term storage accounts.
    • This “banking” occurs when the water cannot be used directly the year it was produced so is then stored in the ground for future use.
  • Imported supplies (supplies from outside the PrAMA boundaries):
    • The potential importation of water supplies from the Big Chino sub-basin has an extensive history that pre-dates the 1980 Groundwater Code.
    • In the late 1990s, the City sold an entitlement to Colorado River supplies to fund the acquisition of water supplies from the Big Chino sub-basin.
    • In 2004, accordance with State law A.R.S. § 45-555, the City purchased lands in the Big Chino sub-basin to meet existing and future water needs. For current activities related to imported water supplies, click here.