Big water news out of Phoenix just in time for one of the hottest parts of summer The Central Arizona Project known as CAP just wrapped up a rare maintenance event on a massive siphon in northwest Phoenix According to KJZZ this million-gallon water discharge called a blow off only happens about once a decade and is critical to keep the aqueducts running smoothly That’s no small feat when you consider that these pipes quietly deliver Colorado River water across 336 miles supporting the daily lives of 6 million Arizonans CAP’s project manager Jason Terrell even joked that, if something went wrong with this maintenance, there’d be a lot of angry folks out there Not surprising considering almost everyone in Phoenix relies on this system but surprisingly few actually know how the whole thing works

Zooming in on the past 48 hours residents in Phoenix have faced classic July extremes Temperatures hovered near 41 degrees Celsius or 106 degrees Fahrenheit according to the University of East Anglia’s climate records with stretches of clear skies and some extreme midday heat Rain has been no help lately The long-term July average is just under 1 inch—around 22 millimeters—but as of this week, the month is tracking at a paltry 0.16 inches, or less than a fifth of the norm The Old Farmer’s Almanac says isolated afternoon thunderstorms are flirting with the Valley through the weekend, but any measurable relief has been sparse Monsoon lovers are on standby, but there’s little evidence so far that a soaker is coming soon

Drinking water quality, always a point of local pride and concern, is tightening up right now Arizona’s Department of Environmental Quality just finalized new safety standards for groundwater adding stricter limits on pollutants such as arsenic and uranium The new regulations kick in August 4th according to the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council and are expected to bolster public health protections The ADEQ reports more than 80 percent of Arizonans rely on groundwater, especially outside city centers where private wells are common That’s a lot of people keeping an eye on these changes, especially with summer water demand at its highest

Community efforts to stretch every drop also made news The City of Phoenix Water Services Department just renewed support for neighborhood projects focused on water conservation, sponsoring grants through the Love Your Block program The city highlights projects like rainwater harvesting, leak watch groups, and drought-resistant landscaping as vital steps Not only do these efforts add greenery and beauty, but they help keep the city’s water supply sustainable as heat and drought stretch into August

Meanwhile, outside the Valley, the Arizona Corporation Commission settled a local dispute over how to split the extra costs of burying a new 1.5-million-gallon water tank in Sedona The good news for most residential ratepayers north of Phoenix is that they’re off the hook for higher bills, while Sedona locals will chip in a few extra dollars each month for the underground tank That decision means more fairness for everyone—and, more importantly, secure water storage heading into a dehydrating summer

If you’ve been wondering why your sprinklers are running less or your local park looks a bit crispier, it’s all about conservation With heat lingering and rain staying stingy, every gallon counts this week The big takeaway: Phoenix’s water infrastructure is working overtime behind the scenes, groundwater quality standards are getting tougher, and neighbors citywide are being empowered to protect every drop

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