🔬 Toxic Legacy: 30% of Tucson Basin Contaminated by PFAS as Military Pollution Spreads | Buckmaster Show

Water Director Kmiec reveals shocking extent of "forever chemical" contamination across metro area

Apr 23, 2025

😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾

Tucson 🌵 is facing serious water challenges with very little rain 🌧️, problems with the Colorado River's water supply 🌊, and chemicals 🧪 in our groundwater. The city's water department wants to charge people living outside city limits more money 💸 for their water 💦 because it costs more to deliver it to them. Many wells have been shut down 🚫 because of dangerous chemicals from military bases and the airport. The city is planning to build a special plant 🏭 that will clean wastewater so well that it can be used again for drinking 💧. Water is very important in the desert, and the decisions we make now will affect whether we have enough in the future 🔮.

🗝️ Takeaways

💧 Tucson is experiencing one of its driest periods on record with only 0.5 inches of rain received where 2.5 inches would be normal
🏔️ Poor snowpack in the southern Rockies means no relief for the dwindling Colorado River system
💰 Tucson Water is proposing differential rates that would cost county residents about $8.50 more per month
🧪 PFAS contamination has forced Tucson Water to take 40% of its water production capacity offline
🗺️ Approximately 30% of the Tucson Basin shows some level of PFAS contamination
🚿 An $86.7 million advanced water purification facility is planned for completion by 2031
🚱 Between 7-9% of Tucson's water is lost through leaky pipes and metering inaccuracies
🏜️ County water users represent 27% of customers but consume 32-34% of the water supply

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Desert Depletion & Differential Dollars: Tucson's Water Wars Heat Up

As the Sonoran sun scorches our beloved basin and politicians posture over pricing, our water worries wade into existential territory.

In the unforgiving desert we proudly call home, where saguaros stand as silent sentinels of survival and garden-tending has become an act of defiance against climate catastrophe, the Buckmaster Show once again tapped into the aquifer of expertise we desperately need. On this Good Friday episode (4/18/25), Bill Buckmaster and co-anchor Joe Ferguson from The Tucson Agenda welcomed Tucson Water Director John Kmiec for a deep dive into our community's most precious resource – the liquid currency that keeps our desert dreams alive.

Welcome to Tucson, where we measure wealth not in dollars but in gallons, and where "making it rain" isn't about flashing cash but a desperate collective prayer.

As rainless records accumulate with terrifying consistency and the Colorado River recedes from shorelines and political promises alike, Tucson tiptoes through a tightrope of water management that balances politics, pricing, and potability. Let's wade into the watershed of wisdom shared on today's show – because in this town, ignorance about water isn't just unfortunate, it's unsustainable.

Drought Dominion: Our Desiccated Desert Dilemma

The conversation began with a sobering assessment that confirmed what our shriveling succulents and dusty dooryards already know – we're experiencing one of the driest periods on record. With a paltry half-inch of rain where we should have accumulated two and a half inches year-to-date, the drought's grip tightens on the Tucson basin like a python around its prey.

"If you go back to last August or September, it's the driest period on record for Tucson, Arizona," Buckmaster noted, his concern palpable even through radio waves. "And you can see it everywhere... The cacti are all shriveling up."

More critically, the Colorado River watershed – our region's liquid lifeline – suffered another disappointing snow season. While northern parts of the Rockies and California's Sierra Nevada mountains enjoyed plentiful precipitation, the southern Rockies that feed our Colorado River system remained relatively powder-poor.

"It just never materialized this year," Kmiec confirmed grimly.

This translates to continued pressure on Lake Mead and Lake Powell, those massive man-made reservoirs slowly transforming into monumental bathtubs with ever-widening rings of mineral deposits marking their decline – a perfect metaphor for the hubris of building metropolises in places nature never intended.

Remember when climate change was just a liberal talking point? Now it's the reason your HOA-mandated lawn is turning into a monument to our collective denial.

Differential Water Rates: The County-City Cash Clash

The show's main splash centered on the controversial topic of differential water rates – a policy proposal guaranteed to make county residents' blood boil hotter than unshaded pavement in August.

Kmiec explained that Tucson Water is considering implementing different rates for city residents and county customers. Following a 60-day public notice period in early April, a June 17th public hearing before the mayor and council is scheduled.

This potential pricing pivot represents a departure from Tucson's historical "universal rate" structure – something of an anomaly in the municipal water world. As Kmiec noted, "Differential rates are commonly used in other water utilities throughout the state...Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Yuma have had differential rates for customers outside their city limits for years."

Shocking revelation: Water costs more to deliver to sprawling suburban developments perched on hillsides miles from city centers. Who could have possibly predicted such a thing when approving endless county developments?

The new analysis suggests county customers cost more to serve due to three factors that will surprise absolutely no one who understands basic physics and economics:

More expensive infrastructure (fewer customers per foot of pipe)
Higher elevation requires more energy-intensive pumping
Slightly higher water usage (27% of customers using 32-34% of the water)

"A lot of it's related to the difference in elevation," Kmiec explained, adding that "there's just less customers per feet of pipe. So when you have to have these capital replacement programs to... keep everybody's level of service the same, you actually are spending more money in the unincorporated Pima County."

For the average county customer, the proposed increase would amount to about $8.50 per month, approximately the cost of two fancy coffees. While seemingly modest, this aquatic algebra has already stirred political currents, with the Pima County Board of Supervisors preparing to protest with the righteous indignation of someone being asked to pay the actual cost of their lifestyle choices.

Joe Ferguson noted that the County Board "decided not to take action, but their documents suggested that they were going to aggressively go after the city of Tucson again over differential water rates," with a draft proposal giving County Administrator Jan Lesher power "to do everything possible to protest those new rates."

Nothing says fiscal responsibility like demanding city residents subsidize your decision to live beyond municipal boundaries. So much for conservative principles of paying your own way.

Forever Chemicals, Forever Problems: The PFAS Plague

Perhaps the most alarming revelation flowed from Kmiec's discussion of PFAS contamination – those insidious "forever chemicals" that have infiltrated groundwater near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson International Airport, and along the Santa Cruz River watershed.

The contamination's scope is staggering: approximately 28 wells and the Tucson Airport Remediation Project have been taken offline, representing about 40% of the water system's capacity. In total, Kmiec estimated that around 30% of the Tucson Basin shows some level of PFAS impact—a toxic testament to our environmental negligence and the military-industrial complex's casual relationship with public health.

"When I look at a map and I look at where we see PFAS detections, looking at the Tucson Basin, I would say probably 30% of the Tucson Basin has some level of impact because of PFAS," Kmiec revealed, in what should be headline news across every outlet in Arizona.

Remember when corporate and military polluters faced serious consequences for poisoning groundwater? No? That's because it almost never happens. Funny how "personal responsibility" never seems to apply to institutions with powerful lawyers.

Fortunately, Tucson's water supply remains safe, primarily relying on recovered Colorado River water banked west of the city, "where urbanization hasn't happened." This cushion of clean water allows Tucson to weather the PFAS storm better than smaller communities like Marana, which had to rapidly construct treatment plants when contamination was discovered.

"The one good thing to remember is it's mostly recovered Colorado River water. That's our dominant supply, recovered from south of Tucson and west of Tucson in Avra Valley," Kmiec explained, offering a rare drop of good news in an otherwise parched information landscape.

Recycled Revolution: From Wastewater to Wonder Water

Looking toward a more sustainable future (assuming we collectively decide to have one), Kmiec discussed Tucson Water's partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on an $86.7 million advanced water purification facility. This state-of-the-art plant, scheduled for completion by September 2031, will transform wastewater into purified water that exceeds drinking water standards.

"It was identified in our One Water Master Plan that the community and our stakeholders... said we cannot as a community count on the Colorado River to be there day in and day out for the next 100 years," Kmiec noted, in a refreshing display of long-term thinking rarely witnessed in resource management.

While this plant will initially produce just 2.5 million gallons daily (representing 2-5% of Tucson's water needs), it represents a crucial first step toward water independence. Located near the Ina Road wastewater facility in northwest Tucson, the plant will help offset wells lost to PFAS contamination while demonstrating technology that could eventually be expanded.

"Let's move in that direction while we're not in a water crisis," Kmiec wisely noted, emphasizing the importance of building resilience before an emergency strikes – a concept apparently foreign to many of our elected officials who prefer to wait until disasters are upon us.

The project does face potential turbulence from the new Trump administration, with Ferguson noting, "We've known that the Trump administration has clawed back money that has already been spent, so this is going to be an ongoing concern for years to come."

Perhaps the new administration could divert less money to border walls and more to water infrastructure that actually addresses existential threats to Southwestern communities. Just a thought.

When asked why the plant will take eight years to complete, Kmiec explained that while the technology exists and is already used in Texas, Florida, and California, Arizona's regulatory framework only recently caught up. "It's not like the treatment technology is not out there... but Arizona's rules just came about."

This speaks volumes about our state's historical resistance to forward-thinking water policy – a resistance that has left us playing catch-up while other desert communities surged ahead with technological solutions.

Leaking Away Our Future: Infrastructure Realities

In one particularly telling exchange, Buckmaster asked about water lost through leaky infrastructure – the aging pipes beneath our streets that silently hemorrhage our most precious resource.

Kmiec revealed that 7-9% of Tucson's water is "lost and unaccounted for"—either through actual leaks or metering inaccuracies.

While this percentage might seem small, it represents millions of gallons annually wasted in a region where every drop counts.

"It is significant," Kmiec acknowledged. "And something we're always chasing... you want to be able to, whatever drop of water you produce, you want to be able to get it to a customer and monetize."

Imagine if we invested in infrastructure at even half the rate we subsidize fossil fuels. Those aren't pipes leaking under our streets – that's our future dripping away while politicians debate whether climate change is real.

Media Matters: Ferguson's Fast Facts on Political Futures

In the show's final segment, Joe Ferguson provided updates on the special congressional election for District 7. The primary is rapidly approaching on July 15th, and the crowded field includes five Democrats, three Republicans, and three independents.

Ferguson teased forthcoming news about a well-known figure preparing to enter the race for Congressional District 6 against incumbent Juan Ciscomani, who has faced weekly protests outside his office and attacks from national Democrats. (It turned out to be immigration attorney Mo Goldman.)

The oligarchs are already stuffing campaign coffers with cash, ensuring whoever wins will be properly house-trained to do the bidding of the donor class. Democracy in action, folks!

Liquid Lessons: The Droplets of Truth in a Desert of Denial

As we stare down the barrel of another baking Sonoran summer, Tucson's water story emerges as a complex confluence of science, economics, and politics. The differential rate debate highlights the tension between resource management and regional equity. The PFAS contamination saga underscores how past practices poison our present options. The advanced purification project points toward a future where we transcend the limitations of our location—if we can muster the political will to see it through.

It remains crystal clear that water in the desert will always be more than a commodity – it's our collective lifeline, shared obligation, and increasingly, our most pressing challenge. While the wealthy can afford rising rates and politicians can afford to play games with policy, none of us can afford to ignore the fundamental truth that our desert city exists at the pleasure of water availability.

The decisions we make today – about rates, infrastructure investment, conservation requirements, and development approvals – will determine whether future generations inherit a thriving oasis or a cautionary tale of environmental hubris.

Remember when "water security" meant making sure you packed enough bottles for a hike? Now it's determining which communities will thrive and which will wither in the coming decades of climate chaos.

A Watershed Moment for Action

Hope flows not from wishful thinking but from informed action. Tucson has historically led Arizona in progressive water policies – from our groundbreaking conservation programs to our pioneering use of reclaimed water.

We can continue that legacy by:

Participating in upcoming water rate hearings (mark your calendar for June 17th)
Supporting investments in infrastructure repair and water reclamation technology
Holding polluters accountable for PFAS contamination
Implementing water-wise landscaping and conservation in our own homes
Electing representatives who prioritize sustainable water policy over developer profits

At Three Sonorans, we're committed to keeping you informed about the water issues that will shape our community's future long after the latest political scandal has evaporated from memory. Your support through subscriptions, donations, and sharing our content ensures we can continue providing the in-depth coverage our desert community desperately needs.

Questions to Ponder

In a region where water scarcity is our defining challenge, should county residents indeed pay the true cost of their water service, or should we maintain artificially equalized rates as a gesture of regional solidarity? What values should guide this decision beyond mere dollars and cents?
Given that 30% of our groundwater basin shows PFAS contamination – largely from military installations – how can we balance national security interests with environmental justice for communities whose water has been poisoned? Should taxpayers foot the cleanup bill, or should the institutions responsible bear the financial burden?

Please leave your thoughts in the comments below. Your voice matters in shaping how our community navigates these troubled waters.