Water Resources Element
City of Nogales General Plan Water Resources Element The City of Nogales is located within the Santa Cruz Active Management Area (AMA), with Nogales and Rio Rico as the two biggest water users in the municipal sector. With growth rates of 5 to 8 percent per year over the last 10 years, creative water management policies will be needed to maintain the AMA goals and meet new water needs if these growth rates continue in the future. In addition, greater development pressure may be coming from the north. Green Valley, located at the northern boundary of the Santa Cruz AMA, continues to experience tremendous growth. The Santa Cruz AMA crosses international borders into Mexico, requiring bi-national coordination of water management efforts. The Santa Cruz River is one of the main water supply sources for Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora. As such, the water management policies of Nogales, Sonora, with respect to the use of the Santa Cruz River, may have a direct impact on the volume of water entering the Santa Cruz AMA. Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS 9-461.05.C1) requires a water resources element that describes available water supplies and adequacy to meet current and future needs or that includes a plan to meet future water needs. The General Plan Background and Current Conditions Volume identifies available water supplies to meet current demands. This element of the General Plan provides the policy direction to meet future water needs.
Implementation Measures: a) Periodically update the City of Nogales Water Master Plan to ensure that safe and adequate drinking water supply demands are met. b) Require the use of water conservation features, methods and techniques in the design and construction of all new public and private development projects. c) Develop programs to promote the use of drought-tolerant plants, water harvesting and drip-irrigation as a component of the landscaped environment for streetscapes and landscaped areas on all new public and private development projects. d) Develop programs to reduce water consumption for new projects that have a high-water use requirement. e) Locate and develop additional sources of groundwater for potable and non-potable needs as necessary. Goal 2:
Protect the quality of Nogales’ water assets.
Policy 1:
Protect the quality of Nogales’ surface water and groundwater resources.
Implementation Measures:
Water Resources Goals and Policies
a) Adopt a drought tolerant plant palette and provide incentives for its use and the use of water harvesting.
Goal 1:
Proactively manage the City’s potable water resources.
Policy 1:
Maintain a safe and adequate drinking water supply to accommodate the needs of the current and future population.
b) Identify sources of contamination to Nogales’ water supply and take the necessary steps in correcting and mitigating those sources.
Policy Plan Volume
Water Resources Element
Page
VIII - 1
City of Nogales General Plan c) Work with Nogales, Sonora and the USGS Service office at the University of Arizona to ensure a coordinated approach to watershed management. Goal 3:
Invest in water and sewer infrastructure that will provide adequate treatment capacity and reduce pollutant loading in washes, rivers and streams.
Policy 1:
Require that water and sewer infrastructure provides adequate treatment capacity and reduces pollutant loading in washes, rivers and streams.
Implementation Measures: a) Conduct timely Water and Wastewater Master Plan updates that incorporate adequate treatment capacity and reduction of pollutant loading in washes, rivers and streams. b) Include budget for such updates in the Capital Improvements Plan. c) Plan to ensure that water and sewer infrastructure meets the needs of the existing and projected populations. d) Require new development to contribute their fair share of the cost of providing adequate treatment capacity in accordance with the policy direction provided in the Cost of Development element.
Policy Plan Volume
Goal 4:
Promote coordinated planning between jurisdictions and agencies responsible for potable water, wastewater, and storm water management.
Policy 1:
Establish a comprehensive and collaborative regional approach to potable water, wastewater and storm water management.
Implementation Measures: a) Work with Arizona Department of Water Quality, Nogales, Sonora, Santa Cruz County and other jurisdictions and agencies to establish a comprehensive and collaborative regional approach to potable water, wastewater and storm water management. b) Establish and maintain intergovernmental agreements for potable water, and wastewater with all jurisdictions served by the Nogales water and sewer treatment facilities. c) Establish, adopt and maintain Level of Service standards for water and sewer facilities. Goal 5:
Engage the public in water conservation strategies to promote stewardship, manage water consumption and protect future water supplies.
Policy 1:
Encourage and educate community members on specific water conservation programs and strategies.
Water Resources Element
Page
VIII - 2
City of Nogales General Plan Implementation Measures: a) Encourage and educate the community on water conservation strategies, including, but not limited to: a. Discouraging the use of turf for residential, commercial and industrial landscapes and streetscapes; b. Encouraging the use of air paved gravel and air grass systems in lieu of turf for sports fields and golf courses; c. Encouraging the use of efficient irrigation systems (drip/low flow) and water harvesting features in all new development or redevelopment; d. Adopting a drought tolerant plant palette; e. Providing incentives for the use drought-tolerant vegetation and water harvesting.
Example of Cut Curb Water Harvesting Feature
Policy Plan Volume
Example of Drainage Control Incorporating Water Harvesting
Example of Bio Filter Water Harvesting Feature
Water Resources Element
Page
VIII - 3
City of Nogales General Plan
Example of Bio Filter and Drainage Control Features Incorporating Water Harvesting Showing Urban and Suburban Treatments
Policy Plan Volume
Water Resources Element
Page
VIII - 4
Implementation Measures: a) Periodically update the City of Nogales Water Master Plan to ensure that safe and adequate drinking water supply demands are met. b) Require the use of water conservation features, methods and techniques in the design and construction of all new public and private development projects. c) Develop programs to promote the use of drought-tolerant plants, water harvesting and drip-irrigation as a component of the landscaped environment for streetscapes and landscaped areas on all new public and private development projects. d) Develop programs to reduce water consumption for new projects that have a high-water use requirement. e) Locate and develop additional sources of groundwater for potable and non-potable needs as necessary. Goal 2:
Protect the quality of Nogales’ water assets.
Policy 1:
Protect the quality of Nogales’ surface water and groundwater resources.
Implementation Measures:
Water Resources Goals and Policies
a) Adopt a drought tolerant plant palette and provide incentives for its use and the use of water harvesting.
Goal 1:
Proactively manage the City’s potable water resources.
Policy 1:
Maintain a safe and adequate drinking water supply to accommodate the needs of the current and future population.
b) Identify sources of contamination to Nogales’ water supply and take the necessary steps in correcting and mitigating those sources.
Policy Plan Volume
Water Resources Element
Page
VIII - 1
City of Nogales General Plan c) Work with Nogales, Sonora and the USGS Service office at the University of Arizona to ensure a coordinated approach to watershed management. Goal 3:
Invest in water and sewer infrastructure that will provide adequate treatment capacity and reduce pollutant loading in washes, rivers and streams.
Policy 1:
Require that water and sewer infrastructure provides adequate treatment capacity and reduces pollutant loading in washes, rivers and streams.
Implementation Measures: a) Conduct timely Water and Wastewater Master Plan updates that incorporate adequate treatment capacity and reduction of pollutant loading in washes, rivers and streams. b) Include budget for such updates in the Capital Improvements Plan. c) Plan to ensure that water and sewer infrastructure meets the needs of the existing and projected populations. d) Require new development to contribute their fair share of the cost of providing adequate treatment capacity in accordance with the policy direction provided in the Cost of Development element.
Policy Plan Volume
Goal 4:
Promote coordinated planning between jurisdictions and agencies responsible for potable water, wastewater, and storm water management.
Policy 1:
Establish a comprehensive and collaborative regional approach to potable water, wastewater and storm water management.
Implementation Measures: a) Work with Arizona Department of Water Quality, Nogales, Sonora, Santa Cruz County and other jurisdictions and agencies to establish a comprehensive and collaborative regional approach to potable water, wastewater and storm water management. b) Establish and maintain intergovernmental agreements for potable water, and wastewater with all jurisdictions served by the Nogales water and sewer treatment facilities. c) Establish, adopt and maintain Level of Service standards for water and sewer facilities. Goal 5:
Engage the public in water conservation strategies to promote stewardship, manage water consumption and protect future water supplies.
Policy 1:
Encourage and educate community members on specific water conservation programs and strategies.
Water Resources Element
Page
VIII - 2
City of Nogales General Plan Implementation Measures: a) Encourage and educate the community on water conservation strategies, including, but not limited to: a. Discouraging the use of turf for residential, commercial and industrial landscapes and streetscapes; b. Encouraging the use of air paved gravel and air grass systems in lieu of turf for sports fields and golf courses; c. Encouraging the use of efficient irrigation systems (drip/low flow) and water harvesting features in all new development or redevelopment; d. Adopting a drought tolerant plant palette; e. Providing incentives for the use drought-tolerant vegetation and water harvesting.
Example of Cut Curb Water Harvesting Feature
Policy Plan Volume
Example of Drainage Control Incorporating Water Harvesting
Example of Bio Filter Water Harvesting Feature
Water Resources Element
Page
VIII - 3
City of Nogales General Plan
Example of Bio Filter and Drainage Control Features Incorporating Water Harvesting Showing Urban and Suburban Treatments
Policy Plan Volume
Water Resources Element
Page
VIII - 4
