In November 1998, Tucson Water publicized the Ambassador Neighborhoods Program and asked for volunteers to take part in this effort to make use of our renewable Colorado River water resources. Since then, more than 400 individuals, neighborhood associations, and organizations have contacted Tucson Water and volunteered to take part. Each volunteer was entered into a database along with information about his or her neighborhood.
Tucson Water then researched its records to evaluate the public water mains and valves in each neighborhood to determine if it could be isolated from the surrounding area without affecting water services in nearby homes.
Maps and neighborhood visits followed to determine if there was vacant property in the area of sufficient size to install the storage tank and other equipment necessary to deliver the groundwater/recharged Colorado River water blend to the neighborhood. It was also important to determine if the property had a source of electric power and that a water tanker truck could easily access the property to deliver the water blend.
Finally, billing records were examined to determine the historic water use of the neighborhood to ensure that Tucson Water could deliver enough blended water to meet demand 24-hours-a-day for 90 days.
Those neighborhoods that met each of the above qualifications were then prioritized based on their location. Tucson Water's goal was to select neighborhoods that would best represent the wide variety of ages, plumbing materials, and conditions found throughout the Tucson Water service area. In particular, it was important that at least one neighborhood be in an area that received Colorado River water in 1992 and at least one neighborhood be located outside the City limits.
The four neighborhoods that were selected are located in east Tucson near Broadway Blvd. and Pantano Rd., central Tucson near Craycroft Rd. and 4th St., southwest Tucson near I-19 and Ajo Way, and outside the Tucson city limits on Bopp Rd., west of San Joaquin Rd.