When it comes to water, there are the “haves” and the “have-nots.” Much of the Western U.S. is in the “have not” category, including Scottsdale, Arizona. The city faces shrinking resources due to long-term drought and overuse while at the same time experiencing extensive population growth, making long-term availability a capricious concept. Additionally, the city must adjust to cuts in the supply of water allotted from the Colorado River. To prepare for the worst-case scenario, the city has “banked” water for years (storing unused water), but now faces pressure to share their supply with other communities that were developed with little regard for future water security.

In recent years, Scottsdale implemented measures to protect its water supply, establishing conservation incentives, moving away from tapping groundwater and instead relying on surface water for 90 percent of its drinking water.[1] The city also recycles water, recharging over 1.7 billion gallons of purified recycled water annually for drinking water supplies according to the city’s website. The combined impact of these measures reduces Scottsdale’s water consumption despite significant population growth, allowing the city to bank more water. Last year, it was reported that Scottsdale recharged approximately 10,000 acre-feet of water from the Central Arizona Project water (water that comes from the Colorado River) and received “credits” for water that was not used and pumped back into aquifers.[2]

Although beneficial to Scottsdale, the news is contentious to many given the decision to stop supplying water to Rio Verde Foothills at the beginning of the year; the city cited its Drought Management Plan and adherence to the 100-Year Assured Water Supply certification as grounds for doing so. Councilman Tom Durham stated, “We don’t want to be a utility for wildcat developments in an area growing without any management of that growth…It’s unbridled, unregulated growth…They’re going to keep wanting more and more and more water.”[3]

Facing public backlash, Scottsdale authorized a Temporary Water Supply Intergovernmental Agreement, which would have provided 126 acre-feet of water to Rio Verde for two years with an optional third year. Maricopa County rejected the plan which hinged on Scottsdale finding a source for 600 acre-feet and issued a counter-proposal whereby EPCOR, a Canadian water utility, would provide water to Rio Verde foothills in the short term. The plan proposes using Scottdale’s existing infrastructure for transport, but as of the beginning of April, Scottsdale had not responded to the counter-proposal, and Rio Verde Foothills residents are considering suing Maricopa County for its inaction regarding the water crisis.

The state has taken steps to keep development accountable, requiring sustainable water planning. However, communities built prior to these requirements or those being built that exploit loopholes within the laws will face water insecurity and be forced to find water elsewhere while communities that plan for the future will have water in the bank.

[1] “Water Supply.” City of Scottsdale - Water Supply, https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/water/water-supply.

[2] Scanlon, Tom. “Scottsdale Banking Huge Quantities of Water.” Scottsdale Progress, 12 Mar. 2023, https://www.scottsdale.org/city_news/scottsdale-banking-huge-quantities-of-water/article_730d039e-bf9d-11ed-8621-fb024751651d.html.

[3] Scanlon, Tom. “Scottsdale Banking Huge Quantities of Water.” Scottsdale Progress, 12 Mar. 2023, https://www.scottsdale.org/city_news/scottsdale-banking-huge-quantities-of-water/article_730d039e-bf9d-11ed-8621-fb024751651d.html.