Arizona Isn’t Running Out of Water—Here’s the Real Story

Headlines like this are everywhere. As reservoirs shrink and a historic drought continues, people often claim Arizona is about to run out of water. These headlines understandably attract a lot of attention, but they leave out much of the real story—and do not share what’s happening behind the scenes to secure Arizona’s water future. 

Here’s what’s true: The Colorado River is under real pressure. Lake Mead and Lake Powell’s water levels are at historic lows, and since 2022, Arizona has faced mandated cuts to its share of river water. As we enter uncharted territory in 2027, with the largest cuts to Colorado River water Arizona has faced, water providers know they will have less Colorado River water going forward.

What the headlines leave out: Not all water users experience those cuts the same way because each has a different amount of Colorado River water in their water portfolio. The ten AMWUA cities—Avondale, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe—use a mix of four water sources – Salt & Verde Rivers, Colorado River, groundwater, and reclaimed water. The exact mix depends on your location and your water provider’s specific portfolio.

It’s also important to separate what the headline says about "Arizona" from other truths for the AMWUA cities. Since the 1980s, Arizona has required cities like ours to prove they have enough water for 100 years. This rule— 'water first, then development'—is why the AMWUA cities have spent decades diversifying their water sources, storing water underground during wet years, investing in maximizing recycled water, and helping to strengthen our conservation culture. The AMWUA cities collectively deliver the same amount of drinking water they did in 2000, even though they’ve added more than a million people. As a result, they now serve over 3.8 million people while using only about 11% of Arizona’s water.

Yes, the problems are real, and the work isn’t finished: The Colorado River could face even deeper cuts, and drought conditions are not expected to improve.  Yet saying supplies are running out makes it sound like there’s no plan. In reality, Arizona’s cities have been preparing for this challenge through expanding treatment plants, upgrading infrastructure, participating in Bartlett Reservoir expansion, investing in Advanced Water Purification, maintaining wells, deploying Advanced Metering Infrastructure, adopting water-efficient policies, updating shortage plans, and further expanding conservation efforts.

More will be required to ensure long-term water security. Some of those newer efforts include cities working together on regional infrastructure projects and water-exchange agreements to secure new reliable supplies for years to come. The cities know investing in new supplies is critical to show that their communities can live with less Colorado River water. But this story isn’t just about what cities are doing—everyone has a role to play. By staying informed, adopting smart water habits at home, and sharing accurate information with friends and neighbors, residents can help shape Arizona’s long-term water success story—the one worth telling.

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.