Stay up to date with notifications from TheĀ Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Arizona restricts construction around Phoenix as water supply wanes

Arizona will not approve new housing construction on the fast-growing edges of its largest city that rely on groundwater thanks to years of overuse and a multi-decade drought worsened by the climate crisis

Jacques Billeaud,Suman Naishadham
Friday 02 June 2023 14:46 EDT
āœ•
Close
Gov. Hobbs puts pause on water supply certificates

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Arizona will not approve new housing construction on the fast-growing edges of metro Phoenix that rely on groundwater thanks to years of overuse and a multi-decade drought that is sapping its water supply.

In a news conference Thursday, Gov. Katie Hobbs announced the pause on new construction that would affect some of the fastest-growing areas of the nation's fifth-largest city.

Driving the state's decision was a projection that showed that over the next 100 years, demand for almost 5 million acre-feet of groundwater in metro Phoenix would be unmet without further action, Hobbs said.

An acre-foot of water is roughly enough for two to three U.S. households per year.

Officials said the move would not affect existing homeowners who already have assured water supplies.

Despite the move, the governor said the state isnā€™t running out of water. ā€œNobody who has water is going to lose their water,ā€ Hobbs said.

Years of drought in the West worsened by the climate crisis have ratcheted up pressure on Western states to use less water. The drought has also made groundwater ā€” long used by farmers and rural residents in Arizona and elsewhere with little restriction ā€” even more vital.

Until today's announcement, that was the case for developers in Phoenix suburbs like Queen Creek and Buckeye, said Nicole Klobas, chief counsel for the Arizona Department of Water Resources.

Builders relied on the region's groundwater to show that they had adequate water supplies for the next 100 years, which Arizona requires for building permits.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in