Help prevent canal dumping
As the Valley becomes increasingly urban, more cities have established water treatment
plants to process canal water for human consumption. That's one reason why it's important
to keep canal water as clean as possible.
Eight municipal water treatment plants are located near SRP canals. These filtration facilities
treat water prior to deliveries for domestic use.
In addition, the City of Phoenix owns another treatment plant near the Verde River on the
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Reservation.
The cities act as agents of SRP when they deliver clean water to residences and other users.
Cities charge a delivery fee, which covers treatment and transport costs. Cities also pay
water assessment charges to SRP, relieving individual property owners within Project
boundaries from that requirement. By paying the fee, cities assure property owners that
their water rights are protected.
You can help
With 131 miles of canals and about 950 miles of laterals winding across 240,000 acres of land,
SRP cannot monitor every stretch of the system for wrongdoing.
That's where you can help: If you see suspicious activity along the canal banks, or witness
someone dumping something into the canals, please send an e-mail to
SRP's Water Customer Service Center or call (602) 236-3333 -- any time, day or night.
Try to note the license plate number and describe any vehicles you see at the site. If there is
a company name or logo on the vehicle, note that also. Information can be given anonymously.
After a call is received, SRP will contact authorities and/or dispatch its own crew to the site.
SRP also asks for your help in reporting vandalism or dumping at its other facilities, such as
wellsites and power substations.
Under provisions of the state Environmental Nuisance Law and the federal Clean Water Act,
anyone dumping waste or objects into the canal could be subject to a $10,000-per-day fine
and/or be liable for the expense of removing the waste.
