Camp Verde, Arizona

Camp Verde is located 90 miles north of Phoenix in Yavapai County, Arizona. The climate is arid, the hot summer days are often cooled by monsoon rains and the winters are mild. While it is classified as desert, its fortunate location beside the Verde River avails it of a rare and enviable position among Arizona cities and towns.

As the oldest community in the valley, the town of Camp Verde dates back to the mining industry in the early 1860’s. Originally called Camp Lincoln in 1865, the post was moved to its present-day location after a malaria outbreak in 1871. Today, just over 11,000 people call Camp Verde home.

In 2017, the wastewater treatment plant needed upgrades in order to maintain compliance under the Aquifer Protection Permit (APP) issued by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). At the same time, the town was exploring plans for a new outdoor sports complex, including six baseball fields, which would require regular irrigation due to the arid nature of the region. The complex also would include a lake, which meant that any water used for irrigation would have to be suitable for human contact.

With water a precious resource for the area, engineers with Camp Verde decided to explore upgrading the wastewater treatment facility in such a way that the effluent water could be used to irrigate the fields.