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By Tom Howarth
Science Reporter (Nature)
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As the prolonged megadrought gripping the Colorado River continues to deplete critical reservoirs like Lake Mead and Lake Powell, Arizona is taking action to secure its water future.
The state's Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) has launched a plan to import billions of gallons of water annually from out of state—a response to mounting water supply challenges exacerbated by climate change and surging demand.
At the heart of this initiative is WIFA's Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund, a program created to address Arizona's growing water needs. With a current fund balance of nearly $450 million, WIFA is working to bring innovative, sustainable water importation projects to life.
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The Colorado River, which provides 36 percent of Arizona's water, has been ravaged by over two decades of drought. Lake Mead, a key reservoir for the Southwest, sits at just 33 percent capacity, while Lake Powell faces similar depletion.
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The region is expected to get drier in the future, adding uncertainty to Arizona's future water allotments, especially after 2026 when existing water-sharing agreements expire.
"Arizona has a history of proactive planning for our water future," Chelsea McGuire, assistant director, external affairs, at WIFA, told Newsweek.
"We're also living in a time of significant uncertainty when it comes to some of our existing water sources, like the Colorado River and groundwater. These factors were top of mind in 2022 when Arizona created the Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund for the purpose of meeting Arizona's existing and future water needs."
In response to these growing concerns, Arizona is looking beyond its borders to bolster its water supply.
The Plan: Importing Over 100 Billion Gallons
Last week, WIFA held a pre-offer conference to clarify its goals for water importation and to invite companies to propose solutions.
The conference, which included detailed discussions on proposal logistics and submission protocols, was the first step in a three-phase process designed to bring augmented water resources into the state.
According to McGuire, the first stage is solicitation, in which WIFA will "identify multiple project teams with capability to develop all aspects of a water importation project (WIP)."
She said, "Qualified teams may be selected by WIFA to enter into a base contract for the further development of their WIP."
The second stage involves paying for services. Successful teams from the first phases will be issued with orders to develop their WIP. Financial assistance will be provided, and the projects will be evaluated for "financial feasibility, environmental impact, social/political implications, and more," McGuire said.
The third and final stage is project development, in which the remaining teams will enter into pre-development agreements to implement their WIP.
None of this will be a speedy affair. Phase 1 should wrap up in June 2025, and the timeframe for Phase 2 remains uncertain.
McGuire said, "While we won't know the timeframe for Phase II until we're in it, I am speaking of it in terms of years, giving us ample time to gather all information."
The entire process could take anywhere from 5 to 15 years to implement, depending on project complexity, environmental reviews, and funding availability.
Arizona Drought Monitor: Why Import Water?
Arizona's demand for water is projected to increase significantly, with studies indicating a rise of 1.5 million acre-feet over the next 100 years. For context, one acre-foot is approximately 326,000 gallons.
According to the U.S. drought monitor, 90 percent of the state was abnormally dry as of December 10. More than 10 percent of Arizona is in extreme or exceptional drought.
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McGuire stressed that it's "unrealistic" to meet Arizona's water demand gap from sources beyond its borders and that other strategies such as water recycling and mandatory water efficiency measures will be needed.
Nevertheless, a WIFA Needs Assessment identified a demand for 100,000 to 500,000 acre-feet of imported water annually over the next 5–15 years. At the top end, that's 163 billion gallons that the state must find from external sources every single year—6 percent of all the water currently stored in Lake Powell.
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