The Threat To Arizona’s Water
In
over 80 percent of Arizona, developers can build huge subdivisions,
even if the state declares the water supply insufficient. This has
sobering implications for water quality and future growth in Arizona.
We all know that Arizona is a desert state where water is a precious commodity. In the past, conscientious foresight has kept clean water flowing to our taps, even through the current drought.
Now, irresponsible developers are putting water supplies in jeopardy by building at break-neck speed without ensuring there will be enough water for the future.
It is time for Arizona’s decision makers to act to ensure that our water needs can stand up to our state’s current and future growth.
Our Desert State Faces New Water Challenges
Arizona’s population is on track to double by 2030. Exploding
development in areas where there are few protections and little
water—such as the 200,000 homes planned for bedroom communities of Las
Vegas—threatens to overwhelm Arizona’s water resources.
Even municipalities in Arizona that have conserved water, such as Phoenix and Tucson, could lose financial and water resources to bail out developments with inadequate water supplies.
Uncontrolled, Unplanned Growth
At the heart of Arizona’s water scarcity problems are weak state laws
that fuel unplanned development but offer little help to deal with its
consequences.
In over 80 percent of Arizona, developers can build huge subdivisions with hundreds of thousands of houses—even if the state declares the water supply of the region to be inadequate.
Protecting Our Water Resources
We can ensure that unsustainable, poorly planned growth doesn’t overwhelm Arizona’s clean water resources.
But with a rapidly increasing population and a strained water supply, Arizona decision-makers need to act now to make sure that Arizonans have enough water to meet our needs—now and in the future.
A Sustainable Water Future
Living in a desert means needing to grow responsibly since the next
drought is always around the corner. It is common sense that
development should only occur where there is enough water to support it.
Arizona PIRG is urging state leaders to pass laws to ensure that all Arizonans have a clean, lasting supply of water derived from a local source.
Developers must stop building beyond the limits of a sustainable water supply. Our water should be conserved, used efficiently, and restored wherever it is taken out of our water supply.
Arizona PIRG is working to protect our water so that there will be enough for Arizona to prosper—now and in the future.
