Communities across the country are grappling with how to balance growth with water conservation—and the latest example is Tucson, Arizona. Recently, the city council passed an ordinance requiring large water users, such as proposed data centers, to submit water conservation plans, usage projections, and strategies for using reclaimed water before connecting to the municipal supply.
On the surface, this may look like a very specific issue tied to one city and one type of facility. But it reflects a much broader reality: industrial operations of all kinds are being asked to do more with less water, and to show regulators and communities exactly how they plan to conserve.
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Why Water Conservation Is Front and Center
Industrial users often rely on large volumes of water, whether for cooling systems, process water, or cleaning cycles. When those volumes intersect with drought-prone regions, or simply regions with fast-growing demand, questions naturally arise:
- Where is the water coming from?
- How much will be used, and over what timeline?
- Can some of it be recycled instead of discharged?
Cities like Tucson aren’t unique. Similar conversations are happening in states like California, Colorado, and Texas, where drought cycles and population growth put added stress on municipal systems.
The Role of Wastewater Treatment and Recycling
One of the most effective strategies for reducing freshwater demand is to treat and recycle process water before sending it back into the environment. This can take different forms:
- Onsite treatment and reuse: Systems that recycle cooling water or rinse water directly within the facility.
- Partnering with third-party processors: A waste partner like can Valicor take in complex industrial wastewater, treat it to meet environmental standards, and return it as a resource that can reenter the water cycle.
- Use of reclaimed water: Substituting reclaimed sources (when available locally) for non-potable applications like cooling or irrigation.
These approaches don’t just conserve water, they also help demonstrate accountability to regulators and surrounding communities.
What This Means for Industrial Facilities
Tucson’s ordinance isn’t an isolated case. It’s part of a larger trend where municipalities are scrutinizing high-volume users more closely and requiring transparent plans for water sustainability. For industrial facilities, this means a few things:
- Expect more requests for reporting and projections. Cities want to see the numbers before permits are issued.
- Conservation isn’t optional. Even if not legally mandated today, the expectation is that facilities should minimize withdrawals and maximize reuse.
- Public perception matters. Communities want reassurance that growth won’t come at the expense of shared water resources.
Valicor's Perspective
At Valicor, we work every day with facilities facing these challenges. We specialize in processing complex industrial wastewater so it can be treated and safely returned to the environment.
Conversations like the one in Tucson highlight a broader truth: sustainable growth depends on sustainable water use. Industrial water management isn’t just about compliance, it’s about earning the trust of regulators, communities, and future generations.
If your facility is looking for ways to strengthen its water strategy, through treatment, or compliance planning—we’d be glad to start that conversation.
