Introduction
Arizona's three state universities - Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and The University of Arizona have formed a partnership that will position the state as a world leader in water resources management and technology. The primary driver for this initiative is sustaining Arizona's water supply, which is crucial to the state's economy, the health and well-being of its residents, and its natural environment.
Arizona is known worldwide for its innovative water management activities. Although the water issues facing the state are daunting, the state's commitment to long-term water supply availability has resulted in billions of dollars of investment in renewable supplies, innovative regulatory programs, and development of significant institutional capacity.
The Arizona Water Institute (AWI) combines the expertise of Arizona's water managers with the resources of the three universities to support water resources management and technology development in real-world applications. This unique partnership - which also includes three state agencies, Water Resources (ADWR), Environmental Quality (ADEQ), and Commerce (ADoC) - was formed to provide access to hydrologic information, support communities, and develop technologies to promote water sustainability.
Innovation
Building a community - AWI is about people - people building collaborative, multidisciplinary solutions to water management challenges. One of AWI's most significant contributions is facilitating collaborations involving citizens, water managers, agencies, and policy makers and Arizona's universities. It is only through such collaborations to build community that the complexities of the natural, economic, political, and social factors that influence water management can be successfully integrated into sustainable water management decisions.
Future of AWI - AWI is currently supported by the Arizona Board of Regents and the state general fund through an appropriation to the three universities. The universities also provide financial and operational support through other funding sources. AWI plans to be largely self-sustaining through federal grants, foundation support, project-related income, and private donations.
Structure
The Executive Committee provides direction and oversight of AWI activities. It is comprised of:
- the Vice-Presidents for Research at the three universities,
- the Chief of Staff of the governor's office,
- the chair of a 38-member external advisory board, made up of diverse water interests. and
- the Director of the Department of Water Resources (a rotating position among the three state agencies)
The Executive Director reports to the committee. Faculty coordinators on each campus help match resources within the three institutions to AWI projects and ensure the timely completion of projects. Associate Directors located in ADWR, ADEQ, and ADoC ensure that AWI provides the agencies with timely and appropriate support by working on projects and providing technical assistance.
AWI Mission
- Serves as the hub of research, community assistance and analytical support to ensure clean and sustainable water resources;
- Provides education, training, and professional capacity building to citizens and state, local, and tribal government decision makers about conserving and managing water in arid/semi-arid environments; and
- Serves as a driver of economic opportunity by developing water products and services.
Collaborative Research
AWI initiative focus on broad areas of interest critical to governments, industries, and communities:
- Web-based access to water information through the Arizona Hydrologic Information System (AHIS);
- Capacity building/watershed research and support;
- Climate change/drought/adaptation;
- Emerging contaminants and treatment technologies;
- Energy/water stability.
- Salinity management and technologies
Services
AWI provides services to stakeholders, industry, agencies, and communities:
- Water-related data access and retrieval;
- Projects focused on real world solutions;
- Presentations for groups and events;
- Planning support and meeting facilitation for water-related applications;
- Workshops and research proposal development, and
- Technology development and commercialization.
Collaborative teams of university researchers and stakeholders in government, industry, tribes, water companies, watershed alliances, agriculture, and other organizations work to solve the critical water issues facing Arizona and other semi-arid and arid environments.
Accomplishments
In its first year, AWI funded 18 collaborative projects. A key focus is the Arizona Hydrologic Information System (AHIS). Working with partners such as ADWR, ADEQ, and the Salt River Project, AWI is developing the tools to store, access, retrieve, and analyze water information to support water-related decisions, research, planning, education, and outreach. Projects in four other focus areas include:
- Testing of electrocoagulation technology in semiconductor manufacturing;
- Analysis of emerging contaminants in water;
- Removal of estrogenic compounds at wastewater treatment plants;
- Development of a sensor for disinfection byproducts in drinking water;
- Development of a drought indicator and trigger for community water systems;
- Increasing water recovery during reverse osmosis treatment of CAP water;
- Evaluation of irrigation controller technologies.
Water quality/treatment
- Assessment of the Navajo Nation's hydroclimate network;
- Development of plans with InterTribal Council of Arizona for tribal water management in Arizona
Tribal support
- Scenario development and visualization for East Valley Water Forum drought planning;
- Review of ADWR Management Plan effectiveness;
- Assessment of environmental flow requirements of the Verde River;
- Development of integrated riparian area monitoring;
- Identification/characterization of heritage waters
Watershed Assistance and Facilitation
Water/energy sustainability
AWI Sponsored or Attended Upcoming Events
For additional information on other events, please see the calendar