A project to bring a new wetlands water recharge facilities is due to begin construction in 2019 on 40-acres owned by Tucson Water Company east of Houghton and Drexel. Known as the South Houghton Area Recharge Project (SHARP), it will recharge up to 4,000 acre feet of water annually and will serve as a community amenity serving as an educational opportunity for Tucson area schools and other groups. The reclaimed water will go to replenish the aquifer underneath the city of Tucson.
The infrastructure for SHARP is already in place making the cost to develop the reclamation plant reasonable at about $8 million, said Fernando Molino, Information Officer for Tucson Water Company. The ponds will be filled with excess water from the Sweetwater Wetlands and reclaimed water from golf courses and public landscaping. The importance of using this reclaimed water is to keep fiscal and legal control of the water assuring it is not wasted and used to replenish the southeast aquifer, explained Molino.
A mesquite Bosque will be planted throughout around the original three recharge ponds in the area to mimic an authentic riparian habitat. A fourth pond is planned at a later date. Other plants native to the southwest will also be included along with ramadas, picnic tables, benches and viewing stations. Decomposed granite pathway and asphalt paths will connect from SHARP to the Fantasy Island Trails Park and the Saguaro Trails development. The operating of the recharge ponds is expected to begin before 2020.
A representation of what the SHARP project will look like upon completion. (Provided by Tucson Water Company.
