Municipal Supply Problems

Communities that are forced to resort to diverted water supplies, like Phoenix and Tucson, often suffer ill effects when new water sources are introduced. The physical and chemical composition of new water sources can cause substantial municipal problems. For example, when Tucson first introduced water from the Central Arizona Project canal, consumers reported pipe damage, water heaters and evaporative cooler clogging, skin rashes, and aquarium and pool damage (Gelt et al., 1998).