Tucson Water operates one of the largest reclaimed water systems in the Southwest, delivering treated effluent through a separate purple-pipe network for parks, schools, golf courses, and industrial cooling, while banking Central Arizona Project water underground.
Authorized under Tucson Code Chapter 27 and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality reuse rules, Tucson Water supplies reclaimed water for non-potable uses to over a thousand connections. Reclaimed water cannot be used inside buildings for potable purposes and must use clearly labeled purple-pipe infrastructure with backflow protection. CAP water from the Colorado River is recharged into Tucson's aquifer through the Clearwater Program, which underpins long-term drought resilience. Cross-connection violations and unauthorized reclaimed use trigger immediate disconnection and restoration costs.
Cross-connecting reclaimed and potable lines, removing purple-pipe markings, or using reclaimed water for prohibited purposes leads to disconnection, civil penalties, and required corrective plumbing inspections.
Tucson, AZ
Tucson's 2020 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan commits the city to carbon neutrality by 2030 for municipal operations and citywide net-zero by 2045, with a...
Tucson, AZ
Tucson Water operates under a Drought Preparedness and Response Plan with mandatory water-waste rules year-round, plus escalating Stage 1 to Stage 4 restrict...
See how Tucson's recycled water rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.