Conservation and Augmentation: Why Arizona Needs Both

Arizona has traditionally been a leader in water management, but issues like drought, hotter temperatures, and population growth mean we can no longer take our water supplies for granted. To secure our future, Arizona is pursuing several strategies, two of which are common hot topics and equally vital: conservation and augmentation.

Some people view these as competing approaches—why invest in costly new projects if we can conserve more water? Or why push for efficiency if new supplies are arriving? The reality is, Arizona needs both. Conservation helps preserve the water we already have, while augmentation brings in new supplies to meet future demands. Together, they further strengthen our foundation of a secure water future.

Conservation means using water efficiently and maximizing every drop. Arizona has been practicing this for decades. In fact, thanks to landmark policies like the 1980 Groundwater Management Act and years of city programs, Arizonans today use less water per person than we did 30 years ago, despite significant population growth.

Although conservation actions may differ for each person, improving water efficiency is a common goal for many of us. You can see conservation in action every day as more households are replacing grass with desert-friendly landscapes, businesses are upgrading to water-efficient cooling and plumbing systems, and cities are continuously working to detect and repair leaks before they lead to significant water waste. While these actions may seem small alone, they collectively make a big difference. Conservation remains the fastest and most cost-effective way to extend our current water supplies and ensure their reliability. 

However, conservation alone can’t meet all of Arizona’s long-term water needs, nor will it solve our water challenges. That’s where augmentation comes in. Augmentation involves creating or identifying new, reliable, and long-term water sources to supplement existing water portfolios and compensate for upcoming reductions resulting from the ongoing Colorado River shortage.

Some augmentation strategies being explored and initiated include:

• Advanced Reuse: Recycling highly treated wastewater into a safe new supply.
• Innovation: Exploring emerging technologies, from stormwater capture to atmospheric water generation.
• Water Importation: Moving surface water from areas with surplus supplies.
• Desalination: Turning ocean or brackish water into drinking water.

These projects are big, complex, and very expensive. They take years to plan, finance, and build. However, as our population continues to grow and climate pressures increase, they are critical to Arizona’s long-term resilience.

It’s easy to think Arizona has to choose between saving more water through conservation or spending billions on new projects. But the reality is that both are essential. Think of it like your household budget. Conservation is like managing your paycheck wisely by stretching every dollar. Augmentation is similar to finding new income streams to keep pace with future expenses. To stay secure, you need both. And the same is true for Arizona’s water.

For residents, this means continuing to strengthen the conservation culture we’ve built over the years by fixing leaks, upgrading irrigation systems, and selecting desert-friendly landscapes. For businesses, it means recognizing that responsible water use is key to long-term economic growth. And for leaders, it means continuing to invest in conservation while proactively planning and investing in augmentation projects we can rely on for the long term.

Arizona’s future relies on maintaining this balance. Conservation protects us today, while augmentation prepares us for tomorrow. Ultimately, water security isn’t about choosing between conserving what we have or creating something new. It’s about understanding that both are necessary to build reliable and resilient systems that support families, businesses, and communities for generations to come. Still, achieving this balance will require significant investment and commitment.

For 56 years, the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association has worked to protect our member cities’ ability to provide their communities with assured, safe, and sustainable water supplies. For more water information, visit www.amwua.org.