Tucson Receives AWS Designation from ADWR
Image: City of Tucson/Tucson Water
This month, the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) approved Tucson Water’s assured water supply (AWS) designation for the next ten years, determining that Tucson residents would have at least 166,000 acre-feet of water annually for the next century. The Assured and Adequate Water Supply programs, administrated by ADWR, evaluate the availability of a 100-year water supply for Arizona communities to address the problem of limited water supplies and ensure adequate water for residents, both now and in the future. Tucson’s approval, which would be evaluated again in 2034, may need to be reevaluated sooner in light of anticipated Central Arizona Project (CAP) water cuts due to dwindling Colorado River flows.
A recent op-ed by WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal and retired federal water policy scientist David Wegner provides perspective on the Colorado River shortages and actions they believe Arizona can take in anticipation of CAP water cuts. They stress the importance of educating the public about water problems, recommend the use and development of new water sources, and encourage open dialogue about existing and new pressure points, such as the expansion of data centers. The article includes several suggested sources for more information on critical water topics.