Many clients that are looking to relocate to the Phoenix area ask about our water situation.
The water supply for Arizona is derived from four different resources: Colorado River, surface water, groundwater, and effluent.
Through the “Law of the River”, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and Mexico share the water from the Colorado River as a resource.
In addition to the Colorado River, Arizona has access to surface water through major reservoirs and delivery systems located on the Agua Fria, Gila, Salt, and Verde Rivers. The level of water available from these sources can vary from year to year based on climate.
Groundwater is located beneath the surface of the earth in aquifers. These natural reservoirs have pumped a level of water that exceeds the rate of replenishment causing an overdraft. So as not to be 100 percent dependent on this supply, there exists the Groundwater Management Act (GMA) implemented in 1980 to promote water conservation and long range planning.
Reclaimed water as a source increases as our population grows. This water is used for golf courses, parks, industry, and agriculture.
Do we have enough water? The Groundwater Management Act (GMA) established a goal to attain a safe-yield by 2025 for the Phoenix Active Management Area (AMA)
This area encompasses the Phoenix metropolitan area and includes Scottsdale. Safe-yield is the long-term balancing of groundwater withdrawals with the amount of water naturally and artificially recharged to AMA aquifers.
There is a process in place to help meet the safe-yield goal. The GMA requires that anybody who wants to sell or lease subdivided land anywhere in an AMA must show the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) that an assured water supply (AWS) exists to meet the water needs of the development for the next 100 years. Before recording plats or selling parcels, developers must address a number of criteria including 100 year water availability, legal rights to water, confirm that backup supplies exist to avoid interruption, and that there is a financial capability to construct a water delivery system and any storage or treatment facilities. The Arizona Department of Real Estate will not issue a public report, which allows the developer to sell lots, without a demonstration of an assured water supply.
The good news is that Scottsdale has proved that it has an assured water supply for its entire water service area. Any subdivision that receives water from Scottsdale does not have to obtain its own independent certificate of assured water supply.
Source: ScottsdaleAZ.gov
You can also visit the City of Phoenix’s website to find out their strategies for water conservation and supply.
I am here to make your relocation to Arizona a smooth one. Call me – James Wehner 480-323-5462
