Water and Urban Development in Arid Regions

This project seeks to explore and explain relationships between water and urban development in the US, France and South America.  Spanning both water-scarce and water-rich environmental contexts, this tri-national investigation identifies the broader issues and sustainability challenges and examines these via collaborative research.

Water and Urban Sprawl: the Southern Arizona Growth Corridor

The program concentrates on urban sprawl and its interactions with water resources availability, water supply, wastewater and  reclaimed water.  Urban sprawl forces expensive new infrastructure and imposes specific management burdens. Clearly noted in most studies,  these challenges are measured via the amount and value of built space, necessary infrastructure, and public transportation options.  What are the water implications and environmental costs of urban sprawl? Our work is intended to inform policy, planning, and further research. Starting with case studies in the AZ growth corridor, a water-scarce region, and using interdisciplinary methodologies and perspectives, the project focuses on Tucson and its northern extension (Marana, Oro Valley). Preliminary findings suggest the importance of both the water rights/land relationships and the reclaimed water infrastructures in further illuminating the urban sprawl process. This analyses are linked to land fragmentation and infrastructure resilience studies currently underway.

Partners

FRANCE: at CNRS, Géographie-Cités, UMR 8504, Universités Paris I and Paris 7: Dr. Nadine Cattan and Sisyphe (UMR 7619, Paris 6 and Ecole des Mines de Paris), Prof. Pierre Ribstein.

US: at the University of Arizona, Office of Arid Lands, Prof. Stuart Marsh, Hydrology and Water Resources, Prof Juan Valdés, Aleix Serrat-Capdevila, Ph.D. and with the collaboration of Pima County, Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department, Tucson Water, Cities of Tucson, Marana, and Oro Valley and students of the PUF program.