[ADEQ Media] REVISED - Three Top Officials to Lead Statewide Water Sustainability Effort

Fri Aug 28 11:28:15 MST 2009

PHOENIX (Aug. 28, 2009) -Following Governor Jan Brewer's commitment to
collaboration on water resource issues, Arizona Department of Water
Resources Director Herb Guenther, Arizona Corporation Commission
Chairman Kris Mayes, and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Director Ben Grumbles will direct a statewide effort to boost water
sustainability through increased conservation and recycling.

The formation of the blue-ribbon panel on water sustainability was
announced Friday during a conference in Tucson about the state's current
and future water needs, sponsored by the Arizona Investment Council. 

Gov. Jan Brewer, during an April Earth Day speech in Phoenix,
highlighted water conservation and recycling as priorities for the
state. She directed ADEQ and ADWR to work together and formulate a plan
of action to achieve water sustainability. 

The panel will have a number of tools at hand, involving technology,
innovation, and collaboration to reduce water waste and inefficiency,
recycle water, and restore watersheds.

Among the ideas being considered include the importance of water
efficient technologies and practices, the need to recognize the nexus of
water and energy, additional conservation incentives and the assistance
of the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona. 

The three-agency group will look to identify and overcome obstacles to
increased water sustainability. Of particular interest will be
suggestions and concerns of cities, towns, and other water providers
involved in implementing new strategies.

A key part of the multi-agency collaboration will be a focus on water
reuse. The blue-ribbon panel will provide advice on the technical,
legal, and policy aspects of promoting recycling of wastewater,
graywater, industrial process water, and stormwater.

"Clean and safe water supplies are the key to Arizona's future. This new
statewide collaboration for conservation is an important additional step
toward sustainability," Grumbles said.

''Arizona's water supplies are our lifeblood and this cooperative effort
to boost recycling and conservation of water will help ensure our
state's long-term prosperity," Mayes said.

"We look forward to working with our key stakeholders to help us chart a
better path to securing Arizona's sustainable water future," Guenther
noted.

Mark Shaffer, Comm. Dir. - ADEQ
1110 W. Washington, Phoenix, AZ. (602)771-2215 (o)
shaffer.mark@azdeq.gov   

Jack Lavelle, PIO - ADWR

3550 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 
(602) 771-8430 (o)
jrlavelle@azwater.gov 

Rebecca Wilder - PIO - ACC
1200 W. Washington, Phoenix, AZ 
(602) 542-0844 (o)
rwilder@azcc.gov 

-30- 

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