Arizona has significant water challenges, but it is not on the brink of running out of water, as some media reports may suggest. While the challenges must be addressed, there are market solutions and regulatory measures designed to ensure a sustainable water supply for residents and businesses.
Despite the headlines. Arizona’s water future is a lot brighter than they suggest.
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Arizona’s growth and development activities can continue because the hard work and planning has already been done — and continues to be managed proactively.
Consider the regulatory measures in place, such as the Groundwater Management Act of 1980 and the Assured Water Supply program, managed by the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
They provide the legal and physical infrastructure to maintain a 100-year assured water supply to meet the state’s current and future needs.
These innovative and preemptive actions are unmatched and have resulted in Arizona’s water conservation efforts ranking among the top in the country.
Our population has exploded, but not water use
The state has reduced its water usage to the same level as in the 1950s, despite its population growing from 1.1 million to 7.1 million. This is due to increased efficiency, conservation and a reduction in agricultural land, which is a significant water user.
According to data from the Arizona Department of Water Resources, municipal water use, including residential use, accounts for only about 20% of Arizona’s water demand.
Municipal providers within all active management areas (AMAs) have decreased their groundwater withdrawals by 26% from 2000 to 2019.
Good stewardship and conservation efforts are working.
Most of metro Phoenix isn’t facing water scarcity
It is crucial to understand that the water supply issue is not uniform across the state.
While some areas on the outskirts of Phoenix may be experiencing water scarcity, it is not the case for the entire region.
In fact, Phoenix has the ability to grow responsibly for the next 20 to 30 years because of its conservation programs, and the city is included in one of five AMAs that guarantee water for projects in the service area.
Municipal water providers in the state currently designated by the Arizona Department of Water Resources as having an assured or adequate water supply means that sufficient water of suitable quality will be continuously available to meet the anticipated water needs for at least 100 years.
The AMAs covered by the Groundwater Management Act — Phoenix, Pinal County, Prescott, Santa Cruz and Tucson — comprise less than a quarter of the state’s land mass but hold more than 75% of its population.
Arizona has stored water underground for years
As noted, Arizona has already taken steps to address its water challenges.
The state has five times more water stored than it consumes and has never mandated municipal water providers in the state currently designated by the Arizona Department of Water Resources as having an assured or adequate water supply means that sufficient water of suitable quality will be continuously available to meet the anticipated water needs for at least 100 years
Additionally, the state has pumped extra water from the Colorado River into central Arizona and its underground aquifers, which are still largely untapped.
Phoenix is concerned: About ‘sensational’ groundwater reporting
Existing infrastructure allows Arizona to pull and replace water as needed, making its water supply more resilient during drought.
Water experts believe this to be a cornerstone of the state’s preparation, a status that separates it from other Mountain West states.
We’re better prepared than other states
Arizona operates under a multifaceted portfolio of water supplies with the most advanced program for managing groundwater in the United States.
Vast aquifers allow the state to access water during periods of drought, and Arizona has been prepared for decades for shortage declarations.
Arizona also stands apart from its Western and Mountain West state counterparts because it relies less heavily upon the Colorado River for water supplies.
Just 36% of Arizona’s water supply is provided by the Colorado River. By comparison, Nevada is 100% reliant on the Colorado River; it is California’s predominant water supply at 60% and makes up 30% to 40% of Colorado’s water supply.
California has limited groundwater management infrastructure in place, compared to Arizona. California sends more water back to the Pacific Ocean each year alone than the city of Phoenix uses annually.
Research shows that 93% of the water that enters the Greater Phoenix waste stream can be reclaimed and treated for potable use. This is a significant differentiator for Arizona and is another reason the state is a national leader on water reuse.
In other words, the larger picture about Arizona’s water supply reveals a brighter future than many headlines predict.
If continued to be managed in an innovative and sustainable manner, growth and development can flow alongside a stream of natural resources. Please visit this website as an additional resource: