Description

Our next TWT Virtual Book Club is on Thursday, July 1 from 7 pm - 8:30 pm ET. We will hear from authors Michael J. McGuire and Marie S. Pearthree on their book Tucson Water Turnaround and have the opportunity to ask questions. The final 30 minutes of the event are for a debrief/networking with Book Club members.

About the Book: In the 1990s, Tucson Water changed water sources without considering the limitations of their existing distribution system or the taste and odor effects for customers. The new water caused pipe corrosion for customers, damaged the distribution system, and created a public relations nightmare. The authors’ first-hand experiences, first-person recollections, and newly unearthed records tell the story of how this crisis developed and how it was solved. Exhaustive research undertaken by the authors paints a detailed picture of how this crisis occurred, ineffectual attempts to address the problem, and how a new team finally solved Tucson’s water woes. The book is a case study on how to avoid disasters such as the Flint lead crisis and other utility crises resulting from changing water supplies or water treatment. Critical takeaways provide readers with a quick summary of the most valuable information in the last chapter. Each key takeaway can be adapted and applied to any utility attempting to resolve or communicate a crisis. 

About Michael: McGuire was born in San Antonio, Texas in 1947. He has a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Pennsylvania (1969), and both M.S. (1972) and Ph.D. (1977) degrees in environmental engineering from Drexel University. A registered professional engineer in California, Arizona, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Texas, McGuire is a widely published author who has authored over 200 professional articles and co-edited five books and collected works. 

About Marie: Marie Pearthree has over 38 years of experience in the water industry. She has held a wide variety of positions in consulting engineering, hydrology, and water utility management, including Deputy Director of the Tucson Water Department where she led the team that successfully brought in Colorado River water to the Tucson area. At CAP she held the position of Assistant/Deputy General Manager, where she oversaw Colorado River programs, resource planning, water policy, and strategic initiatives. She has since co-authored the book “Tucson Water Turnaround: Crisis to Success” with Michael J. McGuire. A Registered Professional Engineer (Civil) in Arizona, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oberlin College in Geology and a Master’s of Science degree in Geosciences from the University of Arizona.

Purchase the book on Amazon

Purchase the book on AWWA