The Imperial Irrigation District, the largest water district in the state, delivers irrigation water and electric power to residents and farmers and in the lower southeastern portion of California s desert. The IID functions much like acequia associations. It employs 52 zanjeros, or ditch riders, who receive a run schedule every morning detailing where and when delivery gates should be opened or closed. Zanjeros measure and divert the required amount of water from the lateral canal through each customer s delivery gates. After setting the gates, the zanjero makes spot checks throughout the day to monitor the flow.
Violations result in pink tickets, which are warnings.
In Arizona, zanjeros have entered the city. The Tucson Water Department introduced a Zanjero Program in 1996 to provide a free water management service to residential customers. Prior to its launch, the Tucson utility wanted to reach its high water-use customers and help them reduce their consumption and water bills, said Mitch Basefsky, spokesman for Tucson Water. During a brainstorming session while the program was in the design stage, the historical significance of 17th century Navajo zanjeros in Arizona emerged, Basefsky said. In Arizona, the zanjero was a powerful water master who collected assessments from farmers and allotted water to them.