In a landmark decision, Arizona's Department of Water Resources has endorsed an agreement allowing the cities of Buckeye and Queen Creek to import water from a rural groundwater basin, paving the way for these burgeoning municipalities to continue their growth. As ABC15 reported, this deal, which has been developing since 2022, was approved just last week.
The cities are authorized to tap into the Harquahala Groundwater Basin, located in the western section of Maricopa County, withdrawing annual allotments of 5,926 acre-feet and 5,000 acre-feet, respectively. This arrangement, which the Arizona State Legislature set up in 1991, effectively transforms the basin into a groundwater savings account for these communities. The agreement spans an extensive 110 years, according to details disclosed by KJZZ.
Despite clearing the regulatory hurdles, experts voice concerns regarding the transfer's long-term feasibility. Sarah Porter, the director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University, expressed reservations. "Increasingly, I think there's a recognition that we need to find some other water supplies," Porter told KJZZ. This indicates that, while this solution enables regional development, it may not fully address Arizona's mounting water supply challenges.
The milestone agreement does set a precedent for urban centers in arid regions seeking alternative water sources, however. The allotments will support a substantial number of homes, with capacity for over 30,000 households inherent in the deal. Despite approvals, key questions linger around the sustainability of this type of water management and its implications for the communities involved. Hence, scrutiny of the Harquahala Groundwater Basin deal and its implementation is likely to continue as Buckeye and Queen Creek navigate the complexities of water resource management in an era of heightened environmental awareness.
