FAQs

• Flow Forward is an Integrated Demand Management Program (IDMP) in the White Tank Mountains region. The program is the product of a collaborative partnership between the City of Buckeye and Arizona Water Company (AWC) and maximizes the strengths and assets of each partner to build on the existing water conservation efforts and resources in this area. Separately, the City and AWC have been doing conservation work throughout this area for many years, but Flow Forward offers an opportunity for leaders from these major organizations to come together and start talking about what more can be done to secure our water resources and help our community thrive well into the future. The program also provides a central hub for residents and businesses to learn about the conservation efforts of leaders and peers in their community.

• This program encompasses existing conservation efforts and introduces new ones. To learn more about the existing efforts, see the FAQ titled What efforts have program partners already made to conserve water? New efforts within the IDMP include a dynamic public engagement program that shares conservation information, strategies, and tips on Facebook, produces educational videos on topics such as how water is delivered to the community, increases community event participation and classroom presentations, and expands the 4th Grade Water Festival programming spearheaded by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension’s Arizona Project WET. And that’s just the start! Follow the Facebook page to stay up to date on the work being done through this program.

• For a demand management program to be integrated, it needs to be in tune with the community, which means including important stakeholders. The partners behind Flow Forward are the City of Buckeye and Arizona Water Company (AWC). The City of Buckeye is a municipal water provider whereas Arizona Water Company is a private water company. For information on the City of Buckeye click here, for information on Arizona Water Company, click here.
• Curious about the service areas for the city and AWC? Check out the interactive map here.

City of Buckeye

• Advanced Customer Portal: City of Buckeye has installed advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) throughout its service area. AMI, paired with the free online portal, allows customers to monitor their water use, set up alerts via email if unusual water usage is detected, and more! For more information click here.
• Rebates: The city wants to reward customers for being water conscious. Rebates are an opportunity to offset the cost of certain water-conserving actions. The city provides the following rebates.
  • High efficiency toilets
  • The removal of grass
  • Smart irrigation controllers
  • For more information on rebates, click here.
• Workshops: the City of Buckeye partners with the Cities of Goodyear and Avondale to offer free monthly workshops to residents in the West Valley. Topics and locations vary each year.
  • For more information on workshops, click here.
  • For general conservation information from the City of Buckeye, click here.

Arizona Water Company (AWC)

• Rebates: AWC offers a high-efficiency toilet rebate program for its customers as well as a free conservation kit program. For more information on these two programs, click here.
• Tariffs: As a private water utility, AWC is regulated by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), which oversees AWC’s business operations and practices, including those related to water conservation. Here are some of the water conservation-focused practices, formally known as tariffs, that AWC implements:
  • Special Events/Programs and Community Presentations Tariff: AWC staff are ready and willing to run booths at events or provide presentations on water-related topics for the White Mountains region. Interested in having someone host a booth or give a presentation? Email savewater@azwater.com and AWC staff will coordinate with you!
  • Landscape Consultation Tariff: This tariff requires AWC to provide landscape consultation services to residential and non-residential properties. These consultations include inspecting irrigation controllers, looking for landscape irrigation leaks, and providing information on low-water use plants. AWC contracts with an outside company to conduct any large commercial consultations for free. Interested in scheduling a free commercial consultation? Email savewater@azwater.com Read more on this tariff here.
  • Leak Detection Program Tariff: AWC staff are constantly assessing local water system infrastructure to look for and fix leaks. As a proactive measure, they use specialized leak-detection equipment to routinely inspect lines for leaks. When a leak is found, it is prioritized for repair to keep lost water at a minimum. Read more on this tariff here.
  • For a full list of water conservation-related tariffs, visit: https://www.azwater.com/rates/

• In December 2021, the City of Buckeye introduced new ordinances to the city code, a handful of them dedicated to increasing water conservation in the community. Section 17-5-25 of City of Buckeye’s 2021 Codes specifies two different water conservation measures for car washes. One requires that “commercial automatic or conveyorized tunnel car wash facilities constructed after March 1, 2022, including at automobile dealerships, shall use water recycling systems that recycle a minimum of 50 percent of the water used.” The second requires “Self-service car wash bays constructed after March 1, 2022, including at automobile dealerships, shall provide water pressure that does not exceed 800 pounds per square inch and use wand nozzles which provide a flow that does not exceed 2.5 gallons per minute.” As a result of this ordinance, any new car washes built in Buckeye as of December 2021 must be more water-conscious. To learn more about this ordinance and others, see the City of Buckeye’s water conservation website under “Conservation Codes”: https://www.buckeyeaz.gov/community/residents/water-resources/water-conservation

• Water in Buckeye, and many parts of central Arizona, is naturally hard. The term “hard water” refers to water with high levels of dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium. This happens for a few reasons. Water naturally picks up minerals as it travels through mineral-rich soils, which are common in arid regions like Arizona. As a result of this tendency, groundwater is naturally higher in mineral content than surface water, such as from a river or lake. Since arid regions like Arizona experience little rainfall, there is a higher demand for groundwater as a primary water source. Hard water is safe to drink and is not a health risk, but the high mineral content does make it taste different than other parts of the United States with different water resources. Water utilities are required to test their water supplies frequently and post the results of water testing annually. City of Buckeye customers may view information on water quality and the annual Water Quality Report here: https://www.buckeyeaz.gov/community/residents/water-resources/water-facts. Arizona Water Company Customers may view the Consumer Confidence Report here: https://www.azwater.com/water-quality/

• The City of Buckeye is the main water utility in Buckeye, with a small areas served by Arizona Water Company and EPCOR, both are private water companies. Arizona Water Company’s water resource portfolio includes groundwater and Colorado River Water delivered via the Central Arizona Project (CAP). The City of Buckeye’s water resource portfolio includes groundwater, Colorado River Water, reclaimed water, and water from the Harquahala Valley. For more information on Buckeye’s water resource portfolio, visit https://www.buckeyeaz.gov/community/water-resources/water-portfolio / By the end of 2025, Flow Forward will release a Water Journey video that covers the local water resources, treatment, and the incredible journey water takes before it gets to the tap!

• The Flow Forward campaign does not address housing and growth issues. Flow Forward was created to help the community use water more efficiently and to help ensure that current and future businesses, as well as residents, will have enough water to create a sustainable quality of life for the community. To learn more about how the city addresses housing and growth issues, please see Buckeye’s 2040 General Land Use Plan, which can be viewed here. For specific questions on development, please reach out to the City of Buckeye’s Public Information Officer (PIO), Daniel Bronis, at dbronis@buckeyeaz.gov.