Is the water supply really bad in Tucson? (Phoenix, Marana: refrigerator, university)

[freckleblender]

I was wondering if the water tasted bad near Tucson or Marana? And do you think it is in a good supply if reserved for only the nessary? We are planning to move here and need to investigate these things! Thank you, and please be serious and from this part of the state to answer. Again, thank you for your time.

[Jukesgrrl]

I've lived in five states and, to me, Tucson's water has the worst taste of anywhere I've lived. It's not merely because the water is "hard." I was raised in a place with very hard water that came from local wells.

This isn't a problem to me, however, because we have a refrigerator with filtered water and ice cube dispenser on the door. We only need to change the filter annually (although I'm sure people with children have to do it more often). The filtered water from the fridge tastes good and I just carry a glass of it into the bathroom once a day to have good tasting water there for when I take my vitamins, etc. I also put a glass of water beside my bed before I go to sleep for the night.

The state of Arizona is in a water pact with six other states that also get their primary water supplies from the Colorado River. As it stands now, there's not a lot of payback for water conservation in Tucson. We get our supply based on what we used the previous year. If we conserve, we will get less. That's why we experience virtually no pressure from our local governments to cut back on our water usage, even if that may be extremely unwise for the big picture.

Here is a brief history of the Colorado River Compact:
Colorado River Compact - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This 2007 article details how the compact was renegotiated at that time:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/10/us/10water.html?_r=0

In 2010, a California Superior Court judge ruled that California had grossly violated the terms of the 2007 agreement by overusing its share of water in the Imperial Valley and he declared the agreement invalid. He also ruled that the current agreement should stay in effect until a new one is negotiated and while his ruling is under appeal. If any final agreements have been reached since then, I'm unaware of it.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...act-limbo.html

The continuing growth of the population (especially in Metro Phoenix and Metro Las Vegas), exacerbated by the drought we appear to be facing in the near future, make resolution of this issue important.

A good source of information on water issues in general is Robert Glennon. He is the Morris K. Udall Professor of Law and Public Policy at the University of Arizona. His area of expertise is water policy and his books on the subject are excellent. He often appears at various places in Arizona to speak on the topic of protecting our water supply.
Here's a link to his website: Robert Glennon

[Varula]

Wow, Jukesgrrl, great info!! I, too, have lived in hard water areas fed by local wells and I have to agree on the taste of Tucson's water. Blech. I do exactly what you do, take my water from the fridge for most everything. Fascinating history you offered...thanks for the research!

And Freckleblender, welcome to Tucson!

[Steve Pickering]

I never drink City water anywhere right from the tap. Not in Arizona, and not in Oregon. Only filtered or boiled (like coffee) and I avoid fluoridation.

[Prodigal Native]

Originally Posted by Jukesgrrl

I've lived in five states and, to me, Tucson's water has the worst taste of anywhere I've lived. It's not merely because the water is "hard." I was raised in a place with very hard water that came from local wells.

When I moved here almost 20 years the water was OKish; apparently the disaster of mixing CAP water with ground water had just happened (busted pipes, rusty water, etc) and we were on pure well-water at that time.

Now, with the CAP water a component of our tap water, it is far worse than it used to be making a filter of some sort a necessity. Like Jukes, I typically drink from the filtered water in my fridge and believe me, it is quite apparent when that filer is used up and needs to be replaced!

[Serenity1944]

When I moved out west in 1979 from back east I was surprised how lousy the water tasted. Back east we drank water from the tap and my family back there still do. Later, I was told that the further west you go the lousier the water, can't remember why though. I lived in Sacramento for a year in the mid 80s-- water tasted like pond water with fish swimming in it, so that is when I switched to bottled water, and then in the 1990s I changed to faucet mount water filters. In LA (80s) I was served coffee and spit it out-- was told the tap water was what made it taste so terrible.

[Jukesgrrl]

Originally Posted by Serenity1944

... In LA (80s) I was served coffee and spit it out-- was told the tap water was what made it taste so terrible.

I make all my coffee and tea using filtered water. It really improves the flavor. Also, I never get water in restaurants in Tucson unless they say it's filtered. Otherwise, I stick to club soda or bottled water (and I usually try to avoid bottles so not to add waste to the environment. But, to me, tap water in Tucson tastes too vile to drink straight.

[inderocker]

Originally Posted by Steve Pickering

I never drink City water anywhere right from the tap. Not in Arizona, and not in Oregon. Only filtered or boiled (like coffee) and I avoid fluoridation.

Interesting, I would of thought drinking water in Oregon would of been top notch... even as far east as The Dalles.

[freckleblender]

Thank you so much for your replies, it eases my mind on moving down there. A filter is deffinately okay with us!! Thanks especially to Jukesgrrl. If you have anymore information about awesome restaurants or a great shopping place, please let us know too!!

[AZFLHigh]

The water is fine. No taste. The water is hard however, lots of calcium. But that is not unusual. Jukesgrrl complains about everything, read the posts. Tucson is not where Jukesgrrl should live.

Restaurants here are great and varied. Everything you could want. Highly recommend El Charro. A great Mexican place that has great flavors. So many others. Shopping is very unique here too. You do not have to got to malls, their are man small independence business that are also eager for you business. Large town, small town feeling.