Arizona's water woes continue to shape the state's future, as the state has now put up a stop sign on certain new housing developments in the ever-expanding Phoenix area. This decision comes after a sobering realization that the local groundwater won't be able to soak up the demand projected for the next century. Groundwater, a precious resource in the arid desert landscape, has been disappearing rapidly, no thanks to a tenacious combination of climate change-induced drought and years of overuse.
In a move that aims to keep the impending crisis at bay, Governor Katie Hobbs, together with Arizona's top water authority, released the results of a study revealing a serious shortfall in the groundwater supply. As reported by ABC15, Hobbs announced a moratorium last June on building more housing divisions in areas like Buckeye and Queen Creek that solely depend on groundwater, given the inability to prove a 100-year water supply.
This restriction doesn't put a damper on any development already given the green light. However, developers must now pull a rabbit out of the hat, so to speak, and demonstrate that they can provide an assured water supply for a century without tapping into local groundwater. "Homes can't be built in the greater Phoenix area unless the developer proves a 100-year supply of water," said Sarah Porter from the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University, in a statement obtained by ABC15.
Meanwhile, the governor isn't only putting up blocks, she's also laying out bridges. Hobbs continues to work on a program called the Alternative Designation of Assure Water Supply (ADAWS), which aims to allow these parched communities to keep the construction dream alive by sourcing their water, at least partially, from venues other than the groundwater wells. "I have directed the Arizona Department of Water Resources to finalize a new pathway for water providers and communities who have historically relied on groundwater resources," Hobbs declared.
With the very tangible reality that groundwater supplies are finite, the urgency to augment sources with reclaimed wastewater and other supplies is palpable. Water experts are clear: once the groundwater is drained, it's not coming back. Arizona residents and planners must navigate this new era of water scarcity where survival is contingent not only on the resources at hand but also on the ingenuity conjured to sustain them.
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