Ak-Chin Water Cycle

Water, Wastewater & Reuse

Joni Ashton, WWTO

Ak-Chin Indian Community
Environmental Protection
Dept./Public Works
 Fort McDowell
Salt River

Ak-Chin
Indian Community Gila River

Tohono O'odham
• Comprised of 21,850
acres
• 703 Community
Members
• Governed by a five
member Council
• Ak-Chin “ place where
the wash loses itself in
the sand or ground”
• Enterprises
– Ak-Chin Farms
– Casino/Resort
– Vekol Commissary
• Industrial Park
– Farabe’s Meats
– Golden State Irrigation
– Hickman’s Egg Ranch
 Environmental
Protection
Department

Public GIS / GPS Environmental

Works Programs

Water GAP

Wastewater CWA Sect. 106

CWA 319(h)

Pesticides
Surface Water

• Four perennial washes

– Vekol
– Smith
– Santa Cruz
– Santa Rosa
Surface Water

• Water Rights
Settlement Act
(1984)
– 75,000 acre feet per
year
• Capacity 80 acre feet
or 26 million gallons
• Laterals
 Ground Water
• Ak-Chin Community
Water System
• Constructed in 1986 with
IHS funds
• Initial capacity of
400,000 gallons
• Additional construction in
2002 with IHS funds
• Total capacity of 900,000
• Serves 300+ homes
• Monthly and annual
water quality testing
 Ground Water

• Industrial Park
Water System
• 550,000 gallon
capacity
• Serves light
industrial businesses
 Ak-Chin Wastewater Treatment Plant

• Phase 1 online Summer of 1999

• 65,000 gallon capacity
• Activated sludge, extended aeration
 Ak-Chin Wastewater Treatment Plant

• Phase 2 online Summer 2001

• 175,000 gallon capacity
• Activated sludge, extended aeration
Ak-Chin Wastewater Treatment Laboratory
Reuse

• Future project
• Irrigation and water
for non edible
vegetation within
the Community
• Million gallon
storage capacity
Environmental Project
• Removed
approximately 250 Salt
Cedar Trees
• Planted 93 Cottonwood
poles around pond and
finger areas
• Reduce nitrate
• Reintroduce native
species
• Increase habitat area
Before Salt Cedar Removal
After Removal with Cottonwood
Joni Ashton, Wastewater Treatment Operator
Ak-Chin Indian Community
Environmental Protection Department
Phone: (520) 568-1146
Fax: (520) 568-9380
email: jashton@ak-chin.nsn.us