Simone Kjolsrud, the water resources manager for the city of Chandler, speaks during a Feb. 3 work session on a water topic. She and other staff put together several water policy allocation amendments they want Chandler’s City Council to approve in the near future.
Even though Chandler city staff and officials continue to tout their great planning successes — especially with water — all cities could use a little fine-tuning.
That’s especially important with potential state and federal changes, an obvious change in surface water supplies and possibly diminished groundwater supplies.
Simone Kjolsrud, the water resources manager for the city of Chandler, presented some proposed amendments to city code to the Chandler City Council during a Feb. 3 work session on water topics.
The council will soon be asked to approve some water allocation policy changes staff feels will help guard the city’s precious water resources better. The amendments could be in front of council for preliminary approval as soon as Thursday, Feb. 20.
“As we shift from developing vacant land to more redevelopment, we want to make sure our policy captures all of the types of development we see in the future,” Kjolsrud told the council.
One of the amendments will be to add “redevelopment” to the city’s definition of MLM users, or multiple or large-meter users. The new proposed use cannot exceed Tier 1 water allocation.
“We would, essentially, modify the definition of a large-volume user,” Kjolsrud said.
Another amendment would be to update the definition of “Tier II water” to be allocated to a large or multiple-meter user based on the city’s water and wastewater master plan.
“That Tier II water is going to be Colorado River water, and won’t be as reliable in the future,” Kjolsrud said.
A third proposed change would affect high-density residential and mixed-use development — as defined by 12 units per acre or greater. This would include a 70% return flow credit.
“An average development is going to return between 30% and 40% of the water it takes, through the sewer,” Kjolsrud explained. “One of the good things about high-density development — if it’s designed with water-efficient landscaping — the majority of its water gets used indoors. So about 70% of it returns to the city.”
Kjolsrud said it’s important to have a utility review step early in the development process in order to determine if, with return credits taken into account, the city can supply enough water for the development.
Lastly, an amendment would affect reclaimed and/or landscaping water. The amendment would add applicability for all types of water use, including reclaimed and landscape meters.
Micah Miranda, the city’s economic development director, said the business community was skeptical of Chandler’s allocation policy when it was first unveiled in 2015. Over time, he said, businesses have grown to appreciate and see the policy as a selling point, as water is seen as reliable in Chandler due to a conservation-based policy.
In addition to the code amendments, there are other steps Kjolsrud said should take place over the next year:
• Update the city’s drought management plan in spring of 2025.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of city water conservations and make recommendations for additional changes in the summer of 2025.
• Participate in the ongoing feasibility study of Bartlett Dam modification, construction of the SRP/CAP Interconnect Facility and maximize investments in the temporary deviation for Roosevelt Dam flood control space.
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
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