While next year’s likely Colorado River water shortage declaration will not impact Valley cities’ water supplies, those cities are planning for a drier future, both in the short-term and the long-term.
Arizona will lose water under the expected shortage, but that hit will be felt almost entirely by farmers. Arizona cities and tribes will lose some of their Colorado River supply, but have that supply made up through other water sources or have a choice to instead be monetarily compensated by the state.
The Colorado River supplies 36% of the state’s water, and the expected cuts next year will equal about a 6.5% reduction in Arizona’s total water supply. Other key water supplies are the Salt River Project, groundwater and reclaimed wastewater.
