City of Goodyear
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The City of Goodyear received public comment on a proposed water allocation policy to ensure a sustainable and equitable approach to our community's future growth. As Goodyear continues to develop, it is essential that every parcel has a secured water allocation to support new construction while protecting the interests of current residents.
The city currently holds a 100-year Designation of Assured Water Supply (DAWS), which guarantees a reliable supply for our existing population. While our current portfolio is robust, this policy proactively manages our available resources to align with the long-term "full buildout" vision of the city’s water planning area two (2) and three (3).
While the Integrated Water Master Plan (IWMP) provides a roadmap for infrastructure and resources in certain areas, this new policy aims to:
- Organize Sustainable Growth: Establish a fair method for allocating uncommitted water resources to future developments.
- Protect Existing Users: Ensure that the water security and service levels of current residents remain uncompromised as the city expands.
- Enable New Service: Create a clear, transparent framework for serving new customers under the city's state designation.
The City Council adopted the Water Resource Allocation Policy at a City Council meeting May 19, 2025.
Similar to many Arizona water providers, the City of Goodyear recognized the need to further manage available water resources and water demand growth to promote sustainability and reliability in the City’s provision of water services to both existing and new customers. A number of water providers in the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas have in the past few years adopted variations of water services ordinances that provide processes and standards applicable to new large water demand, although the definition of “large” varies widely among the water providers depending on available resources and growth area. The ASU Kyl Center for Water Policy at the Morrison Institute summarized some (but not all) of these provisions in a paper published in September 2025, a copy of which is available at the bottom of this page.
The goals of the proposed ordinance changes are both to continue to provide reasonable water service to existing City water customers at their current average usage and to continue to support the development of a planned level of new services within properties in City Water Planning Areas 2 and 3. The ordinances are written to accommodate future overall increases and decreases in the quantity of uncommitted City water resources.
Proponents of new large water uses that exceed the City’s planning allocation for a property may apply to the City for additional or increased water services commitment, and the City Council may grant or deny the request based upon a cost/benefit/resource availability review as provided in the proposed ordinance. If the City upon review agrees to the City should provide water service to a large water use, the City will require a service agreement to specifically manage the large water use. The City may require that a large water user dedicate user-provided imported new water resources to support the City’s water service to that large water use.
Timeline of Public Outreach
- April 7, 2025 – Council Work Session Water Resource Allocation Policy
- May 19, 2025 - Council adopted Water Resource Allocation Policy
- August 20, 2025 - Developer forum
- November 19, 2025 - Developer forum
- December 4, 2025 - City staff meeting with Valley Partnership
- March 16, 2026 - City staff meeting with Valley Partnership. Home Builders of Central Arizona, NAIOP (commercial real estate association)
- March 20, 2026 – Draft Ordinance posted, comment period opens
- April 3, 2026 – Comment period closes
- April 27, 2026 - City posted responses to comments received
Kyl Center for Water Policy Paper
Sustainability Ord 3 5 26 Comprehensive
Water Resource Allocation Policy FINAL