Arizona Water Resource Volume 12 Number 1

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A R I Z O N A WATER RESOURCE ADEQ Organizing Volunteer Monitoring Program World Monitoring Day is Oct. 18 The first World Water Monitoring Day will be held Oct. 18. From Sept. 18 to Oct. 18, citizens through- out the world will be monitoring the quality of their local watersheds and entering the results into an inter- national database. World Water Monitoring Day is intended as an educational opportunity for watershed leaders, educators and trained volunteers throughout the world to hep d i .Zens better understand the work- ings of a watershed. (World Monitoring Day web site is: www watermonitoringday. or The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is doing its part by encouraginggreater involvement in its statewide water monitoring efforts. The agency is implementing a new Volunteer Moni- toring Program that will result in volunteergroups across AmZona collecting data to supplement the water quality information collected by ADEQ. The volunteer data will be useful to the agency for screen- ing waterforpotentialproblems; furthering research or restoration efforts; establishing baseline conditions or trends for water that would otherwise go unmoni- tored; and evaluating the success of Best Management Practices designed to mitigate problems. The agency very much welcomes the assistance Continued on page 5 Students at Sonoran Sky Elementary School, Scottsdale, monitor the water quality of a campus pond during lastyear.'r National Water Monitoring Day on Oct. 18. (Photo: Sina Matthes) Privatization of Water Services in Arizona the Past, Present and Possible Future As anyone keeping up with the water news of the day knows, privatization of water services is a major issue, its significance discussed in conferences, journals and news- papers. They also would know privatization of water services is an issue often fraught with controversy, whether it is adopted in foreign countries or contracted in the Unit- ed States. Privatization is a hot water topic. Privatization is a complex, multifaceted issue, its significance in developing, third world nations different than what it represents in the United States. Controversy that has flared over privatization of water services in developing countries has been sparked by concern that the water needs of the poor are often overlooked, with pri- vate companies in business to make a profit. In this context, access to water has been defined as a basic human right, not a profit- and -loss commodity. In contrast, privatizing a water utility in the United Stares doesn't much raise the specter that needy citizens' access to safe water will be limited at even denied, although other concerns abound. Economics, of course, matter, since most U.S. municipalities turning to privatization expect to save money by contracting a private firm to provide water services. This raises the question whether reduced'services at higher cost will then be the result. Public- sector unions object to privatization, fearing that jobs are at stake. And not to be overlooked is the consideration that water has a heightened status, that it is a commodity like no other, its supply and delivery to be ensured by government, like the health, well being and safety of citizens. What relevance does privatization have in the Arizona water picture? With no major public utility having contracted with a private firm to operate its water services, Continued on page 2 Water Resources Research Center College of Agriculture and Life Sciences The University of Arizona C O 'N T E N T S Water Vapors ........................ 3 News Briefs' ..:......... .........4 Guest View ........................... 6 Legislation and Law.. ... 7 Publications .......................... 8 Special Projects ........:......... 9 Announcements .................10 Public Policy Review .........11 Students at Sonoran Sky Elementary School, Scottsdale, monitor the water quality of a campus pond during lastyear.'r National Water Monitoring Day on Oct. 18. (Photo: Sina Matthes) Privatization of Water Services in Arizona the Past, Present and Possible Future As anyone keeping up with the water news of the day knows, privatization of water services is a major issue, its significance discussed in conferences, journals and news- papers. They also would know privatization of water services is an issue often fraught with controversy, whether it is adopted in foreign countries or contracted in the Unit- ed States. Privatization is a hot water topic. Privatization is a complex, multifaceted issue, its significance in developing, third world nations different than what it represents in the United States. Controversy that has flared over privatization of water services in developing countries has been sparked by concern that the water needs of the poor are often overlooked, with pri- vate companies in business to make a profit. In this context, access to water has been defined as a basic human right, not a profit- and -loss commodity. In contrast, privatizing a water utility in the United Stares doesn't much raise the specter that needy citizens' access to safe water will be limited at even denied, although other concerns abound. Economics, of course, matter, since most U.S. municipalities turning to privatization expect to save money by contracting a private firm to provide water services. This raises the question whether reduced'services at higher cost will then be the result. Public- sector unions object to privatization, fearing that jobs are at stake. And not to be overlooked is the consideration that water has a heightened status, that it is a commodity like no other, its supply and delivery to be ensured by government, like the health, well being and safety of citizens. What relevance does privatization have in the Arizona water picture? With no major public utility having contracted with a private firm to operate its water services, Continued on page 2 Water Resources Research Center College of Agriculture and Life Sciences The University of Arizona