Tucson City Council is set to consider revisions to the city’s large‑water‑user ordinance on Sept. 22. The proposed changes aim to tighten water‑use standards for high‑consumption entities such as data centers, golf courses and other industrial operations.
Background and why the ordinance matters
In August 2025 the council approved an ordinance that required any user drawing more than 7.48 million gallons of water per month (10,000 ccf) to submit a water‑service application and a conservation plan. The rule was a response to public outcry over Project Blue, a massive data‑center development that threatened to consume hundreds of millions of gallons annually. The city rejected the data‑center’s annexation request, but the ordinance remains the primary tool for safeguarding Tucson’s water supply.
Proposed revisions
Officials from Tucson Water have kept the 10,000 ccf threshold but recommend lowering it to 2,500 ccf (about 1.87 million gallons per month). Watershed Management Group, a local nonprofit that advocates for water restoration, says the lower figure would bring an additional 56 users—mostly commercial and industrial—under the ordinance’s oversight.
Current large‑water users total roughly 15, primarily golf courses. Both the existing and proposed thresholds would affect only existing Tucson Water customers, so no new users would be forced to disconnect.
Key conservation requirements
The draft ordinance would require applicants to offset at least 30 percent of their water use with reclaimed water, with the possibility of higher offsets if the city’s water director deems it necessary. It also calls for a performance metric of a 2‑to‑1 water‑demand offset, meaning users must compensate for every gallon of consumptive water with two gallons of reclaimed or conserved water.
Councilmember Kevin Dahl, who supports the revisions, suggests a “net‑zero water development” model for new large industries. Under this model, developers would incorporate water‑saving technologies such as waterless urinals, rain‑water harvesting and advanced conservation systems, then pay an in‑lieu fee to fund water‑conservation projects elsewhere in the system.
Public input and council positions
The council added a public hearing to the Sept. 22 agenda to broaden community participation. Ward 6 Councilmember Miranda Schubert, who has requested a list of current large‑water users from Tucson Water, said the lack of disclosure hampers transparency. “That is a bananas amount of water,” she remarked, noting that an average Arizona household would need more than 160 years to reach the current monthly threshold.
Schubert warned that critics label the ordinance as “anti‑business,” but she emphasized that the goal is not to cap water use outright. “It’s requiring businesses to explain why they are justified in using that much water,” she said. “Jobs are important, but not at the expense of our long‑term sustainability and having drinking water for future generations.”
Next steps
During the Sept. 22 meeting, council members will hear public comments—each speaker limited to five minutes—and then vote on the recommendations. Councilmember Kevin Dahl indicated he will approve the changes while retaining the ability to revisit the ordinance later if needed.
Residents who wish to speak may sign up at the start of the meeting and hand their cards to the city clerk. Written comments can also be emailed to [email protected]. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at 225 W. Alameda St.
Original reporting: Arizona Luminaria — read the source article.
