Wastewater Reclamation Archived News

Aug 03, 2020 - Congratulations to RWRD’s Conveyance Division-CIP Group on its Tres Ríos Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) Nutrient Recovery Project (NRP), which received the National Award of Merit in the Water/Wastewater category from the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA).  

Jul 21, 2020 - RWRD received AZ Water’s Gimmick and Gadgets Award! This award highlights the significant effort, communication, and collaboration of RWRD’s Conveyance Division and Safety Office.  

Jun 13, 2019 - Sabino Creek Pump Station and Force Main project was recognized for innovative techniques, preservation of native vegetation and cooperation with nearby homeowners 

Mar 26, 2019 - Academy provides an inside look at how citizens are part of the local water cycle 

Feb 07, 2019 - Bonds will be repaid within 15 years from Wastewater revenues 

Jan 09, 2019 - The Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (RWRD) is in the process of proposing revisions to Pima County Code (PCC) Title 13 – Public Service, Division II – Sewers, Chapter 13.28 Mt. Lemmon Sewer Connections, and Chapter 13.32 Mt. Lemmon Conservation Fees that relate specifically to the sewer users in Summerhaven.  

Dec 17, 2018 - Stakeholders’ Meeting was held on Wednesday, December 12, 2018, to discuss the proposed revision to PCC Ch. 13.20 – Sanitary Construction, Connections, and Fees 

Nov 28, 2018 - Work to begin on Monday, December 3, 2018, and conclude by Friday, January 18, 2019 

Nov 13, 2018 - Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (RWRD) is in the process of proposing revisions to the Pima County Code (PCC) Title 13 – Public Services, Division II – Sewers, Chapters 13.12 – Preliminary Sewer Layout Requirements, Chapter 13.16 – Design Standards for Public Sewerage Facilities, and Chapter 13.20 – Sanitary Sewer Construction, Connections, and Fees. The proposed changes to these Chapters will impact the development community and others that construct new or modify existing connections to the sewer system.  

Oct 30, 2018 - The Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (RWRD) had proposed a modification to the sewer user fee billing methodology for Multi-Family, Commercial, and Industrial user classes. After extensive analysis, the Department determined that the rate change would adversely affect commercial users, schools and multi-family residents, particularly multi-housing with residents with limited income, and therefore will not be submitted for Board of Supervisors approval. 

Oct 29, 2018 - Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (RWRD) is in the process of proposing revisions to Pima County Code (PCC) Title 13 – Public Service, Division II – Sewers, Chapter 13.28 Mt. Lemmon Sewer Connections, and Chapter 13.32 Mt. Lemmon Conservation Fees that relate specifically to the sewer users in Summerhaven 

Oct 15, 2018 - RWRD is in the initial planning stages of these proposed changes and is seeking public comment prior to proposing the revisions to the Pima County Board of Supervisors. 

Oct 08, 2018 - Pima County’s AZ Pure Water Brew Challenge project won the Governor’s Award for Arizona’s Future at the 38th Annual Arizona Forward Environmental Excellence Awards presented by SRP, Oct. 6 in Scottsdale. Read more... 

Sep 25, 2018 - Pursuant to ARS §11-251.13, Pima County is providing notice that on or after December 18, 2018, the Board of Supervisors will consider a proposed modification to the sewer user fee based on actual water usage for non-residential users as outlined in Pima County Code, 13.24, Sanitary Sewer User Fees. 

Sep 20, 2018 - To keep public safe, site will be closed during weekday work  

Sep 11, 2018 - Project honored at national water conference.  

Aug 31, 2018 - Week-long effort produces 3,000 gallons of water and fosters a promising partnership. 

Aug 30, 2018 - RWRD received two Arizona Public Works Association (APWA) awards at the APWA’s 2018 Statewide Conference Luncheon held August 2, 2018, at the Hilton El Conquistador.  

Aug 24, 2018 - The Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department is in the process of transitioning their public sewer system information onto an updated PimaMaps platform. 

Aug 22, 2018 - Pima County partners with the City of Boise to produce purified water. 

May 07, 2018 - AZ Pure Water Brew Challenge sought to educate the public on the use of use reclaimed water as a sustainable water source 

Apr 19, 2018 - The Arizona Chapter and Southern Arizona Branch of the American Public Works Association (APWA) is pleased to announce the RWRD Conveyance Division, as the recipient of six awards – one in the individual category, and five for specific projects.  

Apr 18, 2018 - The Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department has recently updated its manhole cover design standards to include the Pima County dome logo.  

Apr 09, 2018 - Arizona Public Media recently ran an exciting new three-part series titled Lifeblood of the Desert, which focuses on how cities in Arizona manage their water resources.  

Apr 02, 2018 - The April edition of Zócalo Magazine features the Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department’s (RWRD) collaboration with the El Paso Greenway Project through its Southeast Interceptor (SEI) Augmentation Project. 

Mar 13, 2018 - RWRD participated in its first-ever public art project by working together with a local sculptor, three neighborhood associations, school volunteers, and a community center to design 55 manhole covers.  

Mar 11, 2018 - The Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department congratulates Dr. Jeff Prevatt on his recent appointment to the position of Deputy Director of the Treatment Division.  

Feb 07, 2018 - National Association of Clean Water Agencies will give Pima and partners National Environmental Achievement Award.  

Feb 07, 2018 - Sewer repairs expected to cause some traffic delays  

Jan 26, 2018 - A synopsis of the Water Innovation Challenge project. 

Dec 14, 2017 - For the first time in 70 years, native Gila topminnow have been detected in the river's Tucson stretch of river read more 

Oct 12, 2017 - Commercial Billing Class includes customers primarily engaged in wholesale or retail, communication, finance, insurance, and any other non-residential  

Sep 19, 2017 - WEST Center wins Institution of the Year Award. 

Sep 11, 2017 - Judges select winner and runner up; conference attendees choose fan favorite. 

Aug 11, 2017 - Brewers will craft their beer using purified reclaimed water. 

Jun 30, 2017 - Visitors invited to tour the mobile water purification facility starting at 4:30 p.m. 

Jun 29, 2017 - Unauthorized sewer users must sign up before the deadline to avoid back bills and penalties. 

Jun 06, 2017 - RWRD will repair the sanitary sewer on River Road at Tanuri Drive. 

Apr 18, 2017 - The new rate and fees will go into effect June 1. 

Mar 20, 2017 - The program will allow unauthorized sewer users to correct issue without incurring penalty fees. 

Mar 16, 2017 - Community members encouraged to attend public meeting to learn more 

Jan 25, 2017 - RWRD is looking for volunteers for their Standards Committee. 

Jan 23, 2017 - Board of Supervisors scheduled to vote on proposal at Feb. 7 meeting. 

Dec 09, 2016 - Community encouraged to attend informational public meetings next week. 

Nov 04, 2016 - Southwest Water Campus team will use money to advance its reclaimed water beer-making project. 

Oct 26, 2016 - Over 1,000 Arizona high school juniors and seniors expected to participate. 

Oct 13, 2016 - This facility plan provides an update to the 2006 Metropolitan Area Facility Plan. 

Sep 30, 2016 - A committee will select the winner of $250k prize on Nov. 3. 

Sep 19, 2016 - Underground utility work may cause traffic restrictions. 

Sep 14, 2016 - RWRD issues advisory to alert motorists and prevent future thefts. 

Sep 13, 2016 - See how RWRD repurposes the nearly 60 million gallons of wastewater treated daily. 

Aug 04, 2016 - Award recognizes the department's commitment to water quality innovation. 

Jul 22, 2016 - Crews will replace an existing pump station with a new 8-inch sewer line. 

May 04, 2016 - RWRD has an online auction of surplus equipment and materials going on until May 12. 

Mar 03, 2016 - Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (RWRD) and its contractor, KE&G Construction, Inc., will begin work on the 22nd Street Sewer Augmentation project in March 2016. 

Feb 22, 2016 - Design Standards 2016, the Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department Standard Specifications and Details for Construction 2016, and the Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department Formatting Standards, 2016.  

Feb 12, 2016 - The RWRD Standards Committee is looking for volunteers and is accepting applications for two external stakeholders to serve a one-year term. 

Jan 22, 2016 - The Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department has contracted with KE&G Construction, Inc. to repair the sanitary sewer in the vicinity of Kolb Road and Sunrise Drive. The majority of the work will take place on Kolb Road north of Sunrise Drive. 

Jan 22, 2016 - The Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department has contracted with Achen-Gardner Construction to repair the sanitary sewer in the First Avenue and River Road area.  

Jan 06, 2016 - Five locations throughout town will collect grease from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Dec 14, 2015 - Sonoran Institute and Pima County have partnered to develop a comprehensive monitoring plan and Living River report series for the Lower Santa Cruz River.  

Dec 03, 2015 - It allows for increased capacity and 99 percent ammonia removal. 

Nov 20, 2015 - In the past ten years, RWRD has collected over 28,000 pounds of used kitchen grease. 

Nov 03, 2015 - Over 1000 students expected to participate in this event Nov. 5-6. 

Sep 11, 2015 - Repairs start Sept. 14 through Sept.17 between River and Wetmore. 

Aug 06, 2015 - The auction, managed by Pima County auctioneer Rod Robertson Inc., has a number of items up for bid including several 2,000-gallon tanks, an industrial tent, a mobile home office and assorted motors, to name a few. 

Aug 04, 2015 - Arizona Forward will host a gala event on Sept. 12 in Phoenix to honor candidates. 

Apr 07, 2015 - The Arizona Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) has selected RWRD’s Integrated Sustainability and Resource Recovery Program as the winner of the 2015 Project of the Year Award in the category of Sustainability. The APWA Award reinforces the strong leadership provided by RWRD through its Sustainability and Energy Management Office (SEMO) to address all aspects of sustainability in a holistic manner.  

Dec 01, 2014 - Friday, November 28, 2014 marked the tenth annual Day-After-Thanksgiving Grease Collection and Recycling event in Pima County. Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (RWRD) staff, community volunteers, and representatives from RWRD’s partners EDGE Group, Grecycle, Pima Association of Governments and the Town of Sahuarita were out in force collecting used cooking grease and oils at five locations throughout the metropolitan Tucson area. 

Jul 30, 2014 - Tres Rios WRF awarded the 2014 Project of the Year from the Arizona Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA)in the "Environment - More Than $75 million" category 

Jul 15, 2014 - Clarification of sewer improvement plan formatting standards. 

Apr 10, 2014 - The Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (RWRD) has reached substantial completion of the Regional Optimization Master Plan (ROMP).  

Mar 10, 2014 - As a result of a change in submittal requirements from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Southern Regional Office, effective April 1, 2014, new submittal requirements will be in effect. 

Feb 26, 2014 - Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (PCRWRD) Director, Jackson Jenkins, discusses plans to build a biogas facility on PBS’s Arizona Illustrated.  

Feb 25, 2014 - Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (RWRD) has completed all the mandated projects in the regulatory-driven Regional Optimization Master Plan (ROMP).  

Jan 07, 2014 - After more than 60 years of service, the Roger Road Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) will no longer be treating Pima County’s wastewater.  

Dec 19, 2013 - Staff and volunteers from RWRD and our community partners: EDG Fuels, Grecycle and Pima Association of Governments were on hand to collect used cooking oil and grease at four Tucson locations and one location in Sahuarita. 

Dec 09, 2013 - Tres Rios and Agua Nueva top the list of 2013 Top Water & Wastewater Projects. 

Nov 27, 2013 - The Ina Road Upgrade and Expansion project at the Tres Rios WRF celebrated another success in October. On October 11, the construction of the new Tres Rios Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) and former Ina Road WRF achieved substantial completion.  

Nov 05, 2013 - The Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (RWRD) and our community 

Oct 16, 2013 - Planning and Design Assistance Grant to PCRWRD for Wastewater Reclamation Facilities Energy Audits. 

Sep 23, 2013 - RWRD earned six of the highly respected and prestigious National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) Peak Performance Awards for 2012. 

Sep 23, 2013 - The Plant Interconnect Project which was selected as this year’s National American Public Works Association (APWA) Project of the Year for 2013.  

Sep 10, 2013 - With the recent and ongoing upgrade and expansion of the Ina Road Wastewater Reclamation Facility (WRF) and with the nearing completion of the facility to replace the Roger Road WRF, RWRD is ushering into a new era.  

Mar 08, 2013 - The Women in Government Awards event was held on Friday, March 8, 2013 marking the third year of this annual event. More than 110 women were nominated for awards.  

Dec 18, 2012 - The new 2012 Standards for Public Sanitary Sewers in Pima County were approved and adopted by the Pima County Board of Supervisors on December 18, 2012.