Flow Forward
Water in the Mountains
Cresting the western outskirts of the Phoenix Valley Metro Area, the White Tank mountains are a regional gem, providing natural habitat for Sonoran Desert wildlife, abundant open space for outdoor recreation, and an incredible backdrop for the City of Buckeye and other nearby communities. Named after the basins carved out of the white granite by rushing water from heavy rains, the White Tanks – just like the people who have settled around them – have been, and will continue to be shaped by their relationship with water.
Residents of the region live, work, and play in communities with a rich history of adaptive water management. The first big boost in development in Buckeye Valley took place following the construction of the Buckeye canal in 1886, which allowed for the development of irrigation systems, transforming the landscape and the lives of those on it. In recent years, the area has continued to grow, building on its strong foundation of agriculture to create a unique panorama of farming and urban living at the base of the mountains.
Today, we honor this history by continuing to adapt water management strategies in ways that both expand and preserve our local water supplies to ensure that our communities continue to thrive. When it comes to preserving resources, water conservation is the first line of defense.
To view more videos about the Flow Forward IDMP, visit our videos page
Taking Action
Water conservation isn’t about restricting water use in every possible way. It’s about being mindful of using each drop as efficiently as possible to eliminate unnecessary waste as we maintain our desired quality of life. It’s also about recognizing how our water use – whether as individuals, businesses, industries, or municipalities – ties into the wellbeing of the whole community. Water conservation is a collective responsibility, and in an effort to uphold this responsibility, the City of Buckeye and Arizona Water Company (AWC) are partnering on the launch of Flow Forward, an Integrated Demand Management Program. The program soft launched at the Buckeye Air Fair in February 2025, where city and AWC staff promoted the partnership and discussed local water resources and conservation information with interested community members. Flow Forward then hard launched in April 2025.
What is an Integrated Demand Management Program (IDMP)? The integrated piece stems from collaboration between stakeholder partners – in this case, the City of Buckeye and AWC – to unify existing water conservation efforts and to continue building on the foundation of those efforts. This collaboration leverages the strengths of each entity to hone in on the needs in the area and which opportunities will be most impactful. The demand management piece addresses the fact that multiple community players contribute to water demand, and when we all play our part in conserving water, it’s a direct means of reducing that demand. Every gallon of water conserved is a gallon left in the ground, or in the Colorado River, and the City and AWC are just as committed to playing their parts by minimizing water waste and improving water use efficiency.
What to Expect
Through the Flow Forward partnership, the City and AWC are working together to further existing water conservation resources like:
– Free monthly residential workshops
– Youth water education efforts
– Public presentations and events
The IDMP will also focus on generating new resources, sharing community conservation efforts, and making local water resource and conservation updates centrally accessible to residents, businesses, and visitors in the area. This will look like:
– A Facebook page that posts ongoing tips and information on water conservation topics like passive and active rainwater harvesting
– Educational videos to teach people where their water comes from
– And much more!
Collectively conserving water enriches the lives of everyone that calls Buckeye and the White Tanks region home, now, and in the future. Let’s remember how our relationship with water has and will continue to shape us, as we Flow Forward together.
