AWWA WQTC65828

Tucson Water has completed a comprehensive, in-house review and analysis of the water resources available to the City over the next several decades: Water Plan: 2000-2050. Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. is under contract to implement the Water Quality Assessment and Implementation Program to provide technical and public communication support services to Tucson Water as it makes key decisions regarding the development and treatment of its water resources. The focus of this effort is to assist Tucson Water in determining the answer to the first decision point: What is an acceptable long term mineral content target for the Clearwater blended water program? Clearwater is the name given to the portion of the city's supply that is comprised of Colorado River water from the Central Arizona Project (CAP) that is recharged and blended with local groundwater. The objectives of this study were to conduct consumer panel tests to determine the ability of consumers to detect differences between mineral levels of 450, 550 and 650 mg/L TDS and to present water resources and economic information to the panelists and ask them to determine their preferences between 450 and 650 mg/L TDS. Includes reference, tables, figures.