Water Facts

• In 2006, Mesa residents used 34 billion gallons of water.

• Mesa provided water to more than 458,000 people.

• The service area is 128 square miles.

• The 2005 high demand day was 138 million gallons per day, and in 2006 it was 131.  The average daily demand is 92 million gallons per day.

• In Mesa, each person uses about 180 gallons each day at home.

• City reservoirs have a combined storage of 84 million gallons.

• Water is delivered to customers through more than 2,000 miles of water main.  

• About 75 percent of the water used by Mesa comes from surface water sources, the Salt River Project Canal System and the Central Arizona Project Canal.

• The surface water is treated at two water treatment plants with a combined capacity of 162 million gallons per day.

• 25 percent of water comes from 38 ground water wells.

• The wells are between 800 and 1,000 feet deep.

• Mesa fluoridates the water at a level of 0.75 parts per million. 

Water Words

• Collection system:  Commonly called the sewer.  It is the pipeline system that collects wastewater from throughout the system and transports it to the wastewater treatment plants.

• Distribution system:  Distributes water to the homes and businesses.  

• Industrial Wastewater:  Wastewater from an industry.  The water may require a permit and treatment by the industry prior to putting the wastewater into the collection system.    

• Raw water:  Water prior to any type of treatment.

• Storm water system:  Rain water runs into the storm water system.  In Mesa the storm water is separate from the wastewater  collection system. 

• Treated water:  Drinking water that meets quality standards.

• Wastewater:  A combination of domestic and industrial water that flows from drains and toilets.

Contacts

• Ted Bailey, Water Treatment Plant Operations Supervisor
  (480) 644-5607

• Nick Silides, Water Treatment Plant Chemist
  (480) 644-3291

• Michael Kennedy, Water Treatment Plant Superintendent
  (480) 644-3290

Water Educational Sites

• For kids (Spanish and English):  www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/index/html
• Drinking water and kids health:   www.epa./gov/safewater/kids/health.html
• National water organization:  www.awwa.org
• Building  your own water system:   www.epa.gov/grtlakes/seahome/private.html
• For teachers:  www.ci.phoenix.az.us/WATER/wtrteach.html