A Shortage on the River Doesn't Have to Mean a Day Without Water

Water is essential for life. It keeps us hydrated, healthy, and clean, and it supports our economy, environment, and the food on our tables. Our families and communities cannot thrive without it. But what if it suddenly disappeared—even for just one day?

This week, people across the country are taking part in Imagine a Day Without Water—the Value of Water Campaign's national day focused on education and advocacy. Now in its 12th year, this event encourages everyone to reflect on how much our daily lives depend on access to clean, safe water and why it’s crucial to support the systems, people, and investments that make that possible.

This year, that exercise hits differently in Arizona.

A historic moment on the Colorado River

In late August, the federal government finalized new operating guidelines for the Colorado River. Beginning in 2027, Arizona, California, and Nevada must reduce their use of the river by 1.25 million acre-feet each year for the next two years. Arizona's share, 760,000 acre-feet a year, is the largest reduction to its Colorado River supply in state history. For cities that receive Colorado River water through the Central Arizona Project (CAP), that means a cut of up to 20%.

The reasons for these reductions are sobering. The Colorado River Basin is in its 26th year of a mega-drought, and last winter brought the lowest snowpack ever recorded. Lake Powell and Lake Mead have fallen to unprecedented lows—together, they now hold less water than at any time since they were first filled. The rules for 2029 and beyond remain uncertain, and the federal framework allows for the possibility of even deeper cuts, which would first impact CAP's junior-priority supply.

This is a serious challenge, and we won’t pretend otherwise. However, the most important message for our communities is – a shortage on the river does not mean a shortage at your tap.

Decades of preparation and billions invested

The ten AMWUA cities deliver water to 3.7 million people, more than half of Arizona's population. They didn't start preparing for this moment now. They've prepared for decades, and together they have invested billions so residents never have to imagine a day without water. That work includes:

• Diverse water supplies. No AMWUA city relies on the Colorado River alone. Our cities also draw on Salt and Verde River water, recycled water, and groundwater, so a cut to one source doesn't cut off the supply.
• A water savings account underground. Since the 1990s, the cities have stored Colorado River and recycled water in local aquifers so they can recover it during shortages like the one we now face.
• New, drought-resistant water. Cities are investing in advanced water purification, which turns recycled water into a high-quality local drinking water supply that doesn't depend on snowpack, and are participating in the potential expansion of Bartlett Reservoir to capture and store more Verde River water.
• Stronger infrastructure. Expanding treatment plants, upgrading aging systems, and maintaining and drilling wells to recover stored water when it's needed most.
• Smarter technology. Advanced water meters help customers see how much water they use and catch costly leaks quickly.
• Planning and leadership. Every city maintains a state-required shortage preparedness plan. Our cities have updated those plans, expanded conservation programs, adopted codes that make efficient water use the standard, and cut water use at their own facilities to lead by example.

That preparation is why the 2027 cuts are not expected to disrupt water service in any AMWUA community. Yet, the seriousness of the Colorado River crisis should not be minimized. The worsening hydrology is accelerating and the federal government’s decision to adopt a plan that says it is willing to let the CAP go dry are why the AMWUA cities are ramping up efforts to manage with less Colorado River water. As always, each of us has an important role to play. By using only the water we need, we help our communities become more resilient as Colorado River shortages deepen. By eliminating waste now, we ensure there will be enough when we need it most.

Now imagine it anyway

It's worth pausing to picture what that preparation protects. It's a July morning in the Valley, and it's already 95 degrees by 7 a.m. There's no water for a shower or coffee. Dishes and laundry pile up, increasing illness risk. Hospitals can't sterilize equipment or keep patients safe. Restaurants can't cook or clean, so they close. Schools and offices send everyone home. When a fire breaks out, firefighters can't access water. Parks and fields turn to dust.

Then the heat worsens. Cooling towers for offices, hospitals, and arenas shut down. Factories go quiet because manufacturing needs water for fabrication, washing, cooling, or transport, affecting everything from semiconductors to food. Lights may go out too; electricity relies on water for cooling turbines. The Palo Verde plant is cooled with recycled water. Without reliable water and power, life in the desert becomes unrecognizable and dangerous in extreme heat.

That is the day our cities work tirelessly to prevent. The fact that you rarely have to think about your water supply proves the dedication of those who manage it. The ten AMWUA cities have spent decades ensuring that a day without water remains imaginary. But as we face a future with less Colorado River water, keeping it that way will require everyone’s involvement.

For 57 years, the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association has worked to protect our member cities' ability to provide assured, safe, and sustainable water supplies to their communities — Avondale, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe. For more information, visit amwua.org.