Arizona Water Facts
In Arizona, water is a very precious resource. As a result, many
cities actively promote water efficiency. In fact, in 2008, Arizona
beat out 20 other states to win the WaterSense State Challenge by
recruiting Arizona utilities to join WaterSense and increasing the
population served by WaterSense utility partners.
More than 60 percent of the state’s population is served
by municipalities and water companies that are WaterSense partners.
Through these efforts, residents of Arizona learn about the importance
of using WaterSense labeled products and incorporating water efficiency
into everyday life, helping to preserve water for future generations.
Geographic and Climate Considerations
Arizona has a varied topography of desert, plateau, and mountains.
Much of the state has an arid climate.
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The major watersheds serving Arizona have been plagued by drought
conditions for more than 10 years.
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The Phoenix and Tucson areas receive an average of 8 and 12
inches of annual rainfall, respectively. Along the Colorado River,
cities such as Yuma and Bullhead City receive only 3 to 6 inches.
At higher elevations, annual rainfall varies from as low as 15
inches to as high as 23 inches.
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Arizona’s capital, Phoenix is the state’s
largest city with a population of 1.5 million. City
officials are actively working to address the challenges
presented by a rapidly growing population and uncertain
future for surface water availability. Phoenix has been
a national leader in water conservation for more than
25 years, and the city continues to explore and employ
new management approaches that address today’s
most critical challenges. Phoenix residents and businesses
have consistently shown an appreciation of the value
of water as the demand for water in Phoenix per unit
has declined more than 20 percent over the past 25 years.
This change is due largely to residents integrating
high-efficiency plumbing fixtures (such as WaterSense
labeled products), incorporating more desert adapted
landscapes, and adopting lifestyles to reflect the desert
environment. The City of Phoenix is a WaterSense partner,
helping the state of Arizona win the 2008 WaterSense
State Challenge. |
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Population Concerns
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Arizona is the second fastest growing state in the nation and
the population is expected to increase by an additional 5 million
by 2030.
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Arizona’s population has grown by more than 25 percent
between 2000 and 2008, and current estimates of the state’s
population total 6.6 million.
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The majority of Arizona's population lives in the arid Sonoran
desert, primarily in Phoenix and Tucson.
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Population growth continues to increase water demand, which
exceeds the sustainable freshwater supply in some areas.
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Although population is increasing, agriculture remains Arizona’s
largest water demand.
Freshwater Supply Issues
Arizona is fortunate to have multiple freshwater sources from
the Colorado, Salt, Verde, and Gila Rivers and from ground water.
The largest renewable supply source is the Colorado River. Arizona
is apportioned 2.8 million acre-feet annually of Colorado River
water.
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In Arizona’s most developed areas, ground water from
underground aquifers is being pumped out faster than it can be
replenished.
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The major metropolitan areas in central Arizona have made large
investments in importing and storing water for later use during
drought years. Some rural parts of the state are more vulnerable
to drought because of limited water supplies and economies that
are dependent on weather-sensitive activities, such as grazing,
recreation, tourism, and forestry.
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Cities outside the reach of the Colorado River supply have more
vulnerable water supplies, and many efforts are underway to conserve
and obtain sustainable water supplies for the future. Several
cities prohibit or severely restrict outside watering during much
of the year, utilize artificial turf in public recreational areas,
require commercial businesses to use waterless or water-efficient
plumbing fixtures and make every effort to reuse or recycle waste
water.
Climate Change
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Scientific evidence indicates that dry conditions have historically
followed 20- to 30-year cycles.
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Climate change brings uncertainty to the state’s outlook
for precipitation. Some models suggest Arizona may see less rain
in the summer and a shift from snow to rain in some areas in winter,
due to warmer temperatures.
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A smaller snowpack would decrease the amount of surface water
available; heavier rainfall could increase the risk of flooding.
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Higher temperatures and increased evaporation caused by climate
change could lower lake levels and streamflows in the summer.
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Population growth, climate change, and the “urban heat
island effect” (the phenomenon that cities are often significantly
warmer than surrounding rural areas) are all putting pressure
on the water supply.
What Arizonans Can Do
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Practice a water-efficient lifestyle to help ensure a long-term,
sufficient water supply. Wise water use also makes good financial
sense (visit Arizona Department of Water Resource's Tips
and Tools to Save Water 
for more information).
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Look for the WaterSense label when purchasing new toilets and
bathroom sink faucets and save 20 percent or more on water use.
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Identify and fix leaks, which can waste as much as 11,000
gallons per year per home.
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If you have an in-ground irrigation system, or have plans for
one, consider using a WaterSense irrigation partner to audit,
install, or maintain it to be as water-efficient as possible.
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Landscape with low-water-using and native plants that need only
rainfall for irrigation.
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