“What’s On My Mind: Arizona’s “6th C” – Collaboration
December 2010
Arizona’s historic economy was framed by the famous “5 Cs”: Copper, Cattle, Cotton, Citrus and Climate. When it comes to Arizona’s water resources, however, there is a sixth “C” that was so ably demonstrated over the year-long period that Governor Brewer’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Water Sustainability conducted its work: Collaboration!
Collaboration at its most basic definition means to work together. While Arizonans have their policy differences on many issues, when it comes to protecting and preserving Arizona’s water resources, we have historically spoken with one voice and worked together to ensure Arizona’s water future.
On November 19th, the 40 members of the Blue Ribbon Panel – representing diverse interests such as large and small cities, counties, agriculture, industry, Native American Tribes, environmental interests, Arizona universities, legislative leaders and other water experts –joined me and my co-chairs Arizona Corporation Commission chair Kris Mayes and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality director Ben Grumbles to finalize a significant work of “collaboration” – the final report of the Panel, including 18 sets of recommendations for improving Arizona’s water future.*
The goal of this effort is to improve Arizona’s water sustainability through increased water recycling and conservation. The work of the Panel was a collaboration of state agencies, interest groups, and citizens. Five working groups involving hundreds of individuals targeted areas such as public perception and acceptance of using reclaimed water, regulations and permitting practices that would assist in the use of alternative water supplies, infrastructure requirements needed to move forward, conservation and energy, and the economics and future funding options for implementing water sustainable projects.
By 2020, the Panel agreed to work toward increasing the use of reclaimed water for beneficial purposes; advancing water conservation and efficiency of water use; reduce the amount of energy required to produce, deliver, treat and reclaim water; reduce the amount of water required to produce and provide energy by Arizona power generators; and increase public awareness and acceptance of reclaimed water uses for greater water sustainability. With water levels at Lake Mead at historic lows and Arizona and the Desert Southwest remaining in continuing long-term drought, Arizona’s efforts to increase its water use efficiency is needed now more than ever.
Now the hard work begins! While we are sorry to lose the capable leadership of Chairman Mayes and Director Grumbles – both headed off to new adventures – I know that the relationships built and sustained over the past year among our three agencies and with the hundreds of people who donated their time and energy to develop this blueprint for Arizona’s greater use of reclaimed water and increased water and energy efficiency will help us implement the recommendations of the Panel. Some will be relatively easy and some far more difficult; some will happen quickly, others will take time. It will be an exercise in collaboration once again – Arizona’s “6th C”!
*Download the Final Report of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Water Sustainability at