Know Your Water
Water Information
& Concerns
The Colorado River gets the headlines, but it isn't our only lifeline. The Southwest runs on a mix of groundwater, rivers, and recycled supplies - each with its own pressures. Here's what feeds your tap, what threatens it, and what you can do about it.
It's Not Just One River
Where Our Water Comes From
Arizona's supply is a portfolio, not a pipeline. Per the Arizona Department of Water Resources, it breaks down roughly like this - and every slice has its own story and its own risks.
Groundwater
~41%Aquifers built up over thousands of years supply the largest share of the Southwest's water. Wells serve cities, farms, and nearly every rural community.
ConcernAquifers refill far slower than we pump them. In many rural basins pumping is still largely unregulated, and heavy agricultural use - including foreign-owned megafarms - is drawing some basins down permanently.
Colorado River
~36%Delivered through the Central Arizona Project (CAP) canal and river contracts, the Colorado supports 40 million people across seven states and two countries.
ConcernThe river is over-allocated and shrinking. The first-ever Tier shortages have already cut Arizona's share, and hydrology points to deeper cuts ahead.
In-State Rivers
~18%The Salt, Verde, and Gila river systems - captured by reservoirs like Roosevelt and Bartlett - supply central Arizona through the SRP canal network.
ConcernThese watersheds depend on winter snowpack and summer monsoons, both of which are becoming less reliable in a warming, drier climate.
Reclaimed Water
~5%Treated wastewater reused for golf courses, parks, power generation, and groundwater recharge - the fastest-growing piece of the portfolio.
ConcernStill a small slice. Expanding advanced purification and reuse is one of the clearest paths to stretching every other source further.
Why It Matters
The River Is Shrinking
The Lower Colorado River Basin entered its first-ever Tier 2a shortage in 2023, and hydrologic modeling points to deeper cuts ahead. The rules that govern the river are being renegotiated right now - conservation has never mattered more.
592,000
acre-feet
cut from Arizona's Colorado River allocation
34%
of CAP supply
lost in a typical delivery year
21%
of AZ's river water
share of the state's Colorado River total
9%
of all AZ water use
impact on statewide consumption
Water Concerns
What Keeps Us Up at Night
Conservation matters because every source we depend on is under pressure at the same time. These are the challenges we educate and advocate about.
A Shrinking Colorado River
Two decades of megadrought have left Lakes Mead and Powell near historic lows. Arizona holds junior priority on the river, so when cuts come, we're cut first - and cut deepest.
Groundwater Overdraft
Outside the state's managed areas, most rural basins have no limit on pumping. Water tables are dropping, wells are going dry, and in places the ground itself is sinking.
Exported Water
Water-intensive crops like alfalfa - some grown by foreign-owned farms on unregulated groundwater - effectively ship the Southwest's water overseas one bale at a time.
The Rules Are Being Rewritten
The 2007 guidelines that govern river shortages expired in 2026. The seven basin states are negotiating what comes next - decisions that will shape the Southwest's water for decades.
Do Your Part
14 Ways to Save Water
01Fix Leaks Fast
One dripping tap can waste thousands of liters a year - repair leaks promptly.
02Close Taps Tight
Always turn taps off fully so they don't drip between uses.
03Install Aerators
Aerators and flow reducers cut tap water use without you noticing.
04Smarter Dishwashing
Fill a partial sink instead of running water; rinse with a spray attachment.
05Full Dishwasher Loads
Run only full loads on the shortest cycle with water-miser settings.
06Brush Water-Off
Turning off the tap while brushing saves about 80% of the water used.
07Shave From the Sink
A partially filled sink instead of running water saves roughly 60%.
08Low-Flow Showerheads
Cut shower flow by at least 25% with an inexpensive swap.
09Low-Flush Toilets
Modern low-flush toilets reduce water use by 40-50%.
10Full Laundry Loads
Wash full loads on the shortest cycle and use suds-saver features.
11Water With a Bucket
Outdoors, buckets beat hoses - lawns need just 5mm of water on warm days.
12Water Every 3-5 Days
Skip daily watering; apply 5mm per day elapsed since the last watering.
13Water Cool Hours
Water in the cool morning or evening, and never on windy days.
14Use Sprinkler Timers
Shut-off timers stop the sprinkler you forgot about.