Tempe so far unscathed by Arizona water cuts

By Lindsay Walker
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With Arizona forced to make water cuts amid a historic shortage, Valley cities are having to step up to lessen the impact on residents. 

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation declared a Tier 2a water shortage on Aug. 16. The Colorado River Basin states, which includes Arizona, had until Aug. 15 to reach an agreement to save two to four million acre-feet of water in 2023, but the deadline passed without an agreement. The Bureau of Reclamation estimates that Lake Mead water levels will fall to just 1,036 feet by the end of this year due to years of prolonged drought and low water run-off, accelerated by the effects of climate change. For Arizonans, this means the state will reduce its water deliveries from the Colorado River by 592,000 acre-feet. Tribal land and Phoenix cities will be the most impacted.

“Every sector in every state has a responsibility to ensure that water is used with maximum efficiency,” said Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Tanya Trujillo in a statement following the shortage declaration. “The Interior Department is employing prompt and responsive actions and investments to ensure the entire Colorado River Basin can function and support all who rely on it. We are grateful for the hardworking public servants who have dedicated their lives to this work, and who are passionate about the long-term sustainability of basin states, tribes and communities.”

While Valley cities are expected to make cuts, Tempe officials say residents shouldn’t worry about their own water supply just yet. The city began implementing its drought preparedness plan in June in anticipation of the shortage. 

“Tempe implemented Stage 0, also called Watch, of our Drought Preparedness Plan in June of this year,” said Tempe spokesperson TaiAnna Yee. “We have a diverse water portfolio, getting a minimal amount of our water from the Colorado River. Due to the continued minimal impact on Tempe’s supplies, we have no plan to modify our response at this time. We will continue to monitor the situation and adjust our response accordingly.” 

Stage 0 contains a multitude of strategies, including increasing education and awareness of drought conditions and encouraging water conservation among residents. A landing page, tempe.gov/water, will provide updates and recommendations moving forward. The city is also formulating a Water Shortage Response Team to monitor the situation, as well as focus on reclaimed water. A long-dormant south Tempe water reclamation facility will soon reopen to help the issue thanks to federal funding. 

According to the city, Tempe has achieved a 10% reduction in potable demands, despite its fast-growing population.

Significant infrastructure investments have also been made, including $32 million spent over a period of five years to repair and treat wells. Another $24 million was spent over five years maintaining and upgrading a city water plant. 

“With all of the uncertainty surrounding the drought and no federal direction, it is unclear how we will respond to future cuts,” said Yee. “At this time, Tempe Town Lake will not be affected. Should further cuts be needed in the future, we will make decisions on where to make adjustments to meet demands based on the situation we face, the supplies available to meet demands, and through processes outlined in our Drought Preparedness Plan.” 

Officials with the Salt River Project, which funnels most of the city’s water, confirmed that it is working in conjunction with Tempe to keep the situation under control. 

“Tempe uses a variety of water sources to fill Tempe Town lake,” an SRP spokesperson said in a statement. “SRP works closely with Tempe and other cities to help them move non-SRP water supplies, like CAP water, to locations where they are needed, such as Tempe Town Lake. SRP will continue this close cooperation, especially in light of the state of Colorado River supplies.”