Business View Civil and Municipal | Volume 3, Issue 3

54 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 Throughout Arizona, the community sets a high bar for water innovation, which helps draw new businesses to the area. Unlike most other towns, Payson doesn’t operate a wastewater treatment facility. Instead, it has a cooperative agreement with Green Valley Water (GVW). According to Henry, “We take their reclaimed wastewater effluent and put it into an urban lake, Green Valley Park, in the middle of town. That water percolates through the lake bottom before flowing back into the aquifer; then we pick it up and use it for groundwater resources. It’s great because the lake is even used for urban fishing. It’s one of only three lakes in the state with Apache trout.” In addition to Green Valley Park, there is a new project underway on the other side of town. The Rim Country Educational Alliance (RCEA) acquired 260 acres from the USDA Forest Service with the goal of bringing in a university. There is already Gila Community College (GCC) the LaForge Towing 24 Hour Towing (928) 474-4585 Earl & Kathy LaForge 909 N. Chennault Pkwy • Payson, AZ 85541 laforgetowing@gmail.com