Is Scottsdale in Danger of Running Out of Water?

In August 2022, the Tier 2a shortage of the Colorado River System was declared for 2023 by the Bureau of Reclamation. The Tier 2a Shortage Declaration formally states that Arizona and other states must further reduce their dependence on the Colorado River.

Since then, Scottsdale has been buzzing with concern that we may run out of water.

Will Scottsdale run out of water?

The short answer is no.

And while there are several thousand Google searches containing the phrase, “will Scottsdale run out of water,” most articles are confusing and leave Arizonans with even more questions. 

In this article, we will break down the Scottsdale water situation in as simple of language as possible.

Let us start by explaining where our water comes from. 

Sarah Porter, Director of Kyl Center for Water Policy recently visited The Kay-Grant Group and explained to agents, “First of all, a really important fact for people to understand is that the Colorado River isn’t our only source of water in this state. We have multiple sources of water.”

Is Scottsdale in Danger of Water Restrictions?

No. At this time, there are no mandatory restrictions in place. However, the city of Scottsdale is asking residents to be aware of water use and try to cut their use by five percent.

Where Does Scottsdale Water Supply Come From?

“The Colorado River has been a very important source of supply for the state, but we also have in-state surface water, in other words, water from streams in-state, and the biggest on-state supply is the Salt Verde System, which is managed by SRP. And almost all of the surface water used in the state is from the SRP system,” states Porter.

We also have groundwater, which in essence, is water in the aquifers that is pumped up from the wells. 

Unlike Tucson, which relies heavily upon the Colorado River, Scottsdale’s water sources are a little more complicated to understand. 

Salt River Project

Settlers arriving in Arizona in 1903 established the Salt River Valley Water Users Association - now the Salt River Project (SRP). They offered over 200,000 acres of land to back a government loan to build a water system.

As the Phoenix metro area grew, SRP added dams on the Salt and Verde Rivers.

SRP supplies are transported through the Arizona Canal, ending up at the 30 million daily gallon capacity of the Chaparral Water Treatment.

SRP supplies are only available in some of Arizona. They are only available to “on-project” lands, which gives much of Scottsdale, Tempe, and Phoenix security regarding water protection. 

SRP uses underground water banking. Underground water banking is when supplemental water from SRP canals feeds into a massive absorptive basin. The water then trickles down into the aquifer. When we require water, SRP pumps the water from the wells, ensuring we have sufficient water. 

Central Arizona Project

The majority of Scottsdale’s water supply is derived from the Central Arizona Project (CAP).

In 1987, Scottsdale began using CAP. CAP is a 336-mile-long water system of aqueducts, pipelines, pumping plants, and tunnels that delivers water from the Colorado River to Pima, Pinal, and Maricopa counties. CAP transports water from Lake Havasu to Tucson.

Groundwater

Scottsdale’s groundwater is used as a backup to SRP and CAP. CAP pumps the minimum amount required to ensure groundwater is always there if needed. They also put highly treated recycled water, also called reclaimed water, into the ground to ensure we have sufficient water in the future if required.

In-State Rivers & Streams

SRP operates seven reservoirs that bank water from the East Clear Creek (a tributary of the Colorado River) and the Verde and Salt rivers. More than half of the Valley’s water supply comes from the SRP water system.

100-Year Assured Water Supply for Scottsdale

The Groundwater Management Act of 1980 was created because groundwater levels declined rapidly throughout Arizona in the 1960s and 1970s.

Since the act passed, Arizona has closely regulated all groundwater use in specific areas throughout the state. The Groundwater Management Act calls for anyone who leases land, including housing developments, in these particular areas to prove to the Arizona Department of Water Resources that there is a guaranteed water supply in that service area. 

The City of Scottsdale has already proved to the Arizona Department of Water Resources that there is an assured water supply for the entire service area. This news should reassure Scottsdale residents.

What is the Future of Arizona’s Water Supply?

Special legislative sessions were called in 2021 and 2022 to address the future of Arizona’s water supply. Arizona legislatures set aside upwards of $1,400,000,000 to address water needs in the state, discover and develop new water supplies, and help rural water systems become more efficient, along with other issues. 

“I think we are lucky because in (Arizona), we’re really good at water management. We have people (in charge) who are worried about where the water will be for Arizona in 50 years from now, 100 years from now,” Porter says.