One Water Practices: Scottsdale Water’s history of sustainable water management.
By: Brian K. Biesemeyer, PE. Executive Director of Scottsdale Water
Date: July 16, 2021

Mr. Brian Biesemeyer is the Executive Director of Scottsdale Water. From June 2015 to January 2017, Brian had the additional duty of being the acting City Manager for Scottsdale. Brian is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel with over 30 years of organizational leadership experience. He is a registered professional Environmental Engineer and holds Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Grade 4 Operator Certifications in Water Treatment, Wastewater Treatment, Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection. Brian is the past president of WateReuse Arizona, a board member of the WateReuse Association and a commissioner on the State of Arizona Water Protection Fund.

Abstract. Scottsdale Water’s vision: Water Sustainability through Stewardship, Innovation, and People is more than just a statement; it defines the division and how to achieve a better tomorrow. Starting with the acquisition of several private water properties in 1971, Scottsdale forged the path of innovation to foster a sustainable future. Scottsdale’s commitment to sustainability expanded in the 1980’s by engineering Arizona’s first plant devoted to the production of recycled water for irrigation, the Gainey Ranch Water Reclamation Facility; it continued with the construction of the Water Campus in the 1990’s; and was most recently recognized through the procurement of Arizona’s first facility permit for direct potable water reuse via Scottsdale Water’s potable reuse demonstration project. Through these achievements Scottsdale Water embraces and attains the one water concept - all water has value, particularly in the desert.