About Us

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Since 1999, the Southern Arizona Water Users Association (SAWUA) has operated as a voluntary nonprofit association organized to discuss, analyze and recommend ways to preserve and enhance the quality and quantity of Southern Arizona’s water resources. SAWUA works to determine and encourage the most effective management of the region’s sustainable supplies of water. 

SAWUA’s primary task is to have an active presence and participation in the development of legislation, policies and rules affecting water users. SAWUA has maintained a responsive and respected presence at the Arizona Legislature working with elected officials, senior appointed officials, and stakeholders to advocate for effective water policy, mitigating those measures that otherwise may potentially have adverse impacts and, when necessary, opposing legislation that would be detrimental to Southern Arizona or statewide water policy interests. 

Avra Water Co-op is a community owned, not-for-profit water provider located west of the Tucson Mountains and adjacent to the Saguaro National Park West. Our service area of 12.48 square miles is all located within incorporated Pima County in the small community of Picture Rocks. Water is pumped from three wells which average 800-acre feet of groundwater per year.

BKW Farms is a third-generation family farm in Marana growing cotton, alfalfa, heritage grains, mushrooms and produces mushroom supplement powders. As the Wong

family has made sustainable agriculture practices a priority, the farm converted to irrigate with only Central Arizona Project (CAP) in the mid-1990s and has converted the 4500 acre farm to a Groundwater Savings Facility. Additionally, BKW delivers water and operates three Underground Storage Facilities in the Tucson and Marana area.

Global Water Resources, Inc. is a water resource

management company that owns, operates and manages water, wastewater and recycled water utilities in growth areas surrounding the metropolitan areas of Phoenix and Tucson Arizona. GWR manages our systems using an integrated approach, which we refer to as Total Water Management (TWM). TWM promotes sustainable communities through effective planning, the use of recycled water and by providing individuals and communities resources that promote wise

water usage practices.

Kai Farms has been family owned and operated since 1938 and is located primarily in the Tucson Active Management Area. The majority of water for the farms is received from the CAP through Groundwater Savings Facilities and the balance is pumped from the ground. Kai Farms produces cotton, pecans, Alfa and small grains. The cotton goes on to be processed at the family-owned Trico Gin. 

The Metro Water District (the District) serves nearly 60,000 customers primarily in unincorporated areas of Pima County. Formed via voter initiative in 1992, the District

is the largest Domestic Water Improvement District in Arizona. In addition to providing safe and reliable water services the District boasts a diverse renewable water portfolio that includes an annual allocation of 13,460 acre-feet of CAP water. The District is currently investing approximately $44 million in critical infrastructure to recover renewable water resources and reduce reliance on groundwater pumping.

The Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department protects public health, safety and the environment by providing and maintaining   sewer systems and seven water reclamation facilities to over 285,000 customers throughout Pima County. In collaboration with regional water providers, the Department recycles Arizona’s most precious resource, water, allowing it to be utilized in a myriad of ways such as parks and golf courses, wildlife habitats, dust control and long-term storage in underground aquifers. This practice allows groundwater to be saved for drinking.

Tucson Water is the largest water utility in Southern

Arizona, serving more than 740,000 people with safe and reliable water service for over 100 years. A department of the City of Tucson, Tucson Water is a national leader in water conservation and efficiency, a steward of one of the first and largest reclaimed water systems in Arizona and a pioneer in recharge and recovery of surface water for long-term water reliability.