Colorado River Updates

Arizona Water Company operates 24 water systems across Arizona. These systems range in size from eight connections to over 30,000 connections. Our water supplies include groundwater, Colorado River water (i.e. Central Arizona Project or CAP), and effluent. Each system utilizes one or more of these supplies and impacts due to drought or shortage affect each system differently.

What was the recent announcement regarding the Colorado River?

As of June 1, 2025, total Colorado River system contents are 23.29 million acre-feet (MAF), 1.47 MAF less than at this time last year. The snowpack in the Upper Colorado River Basin (measured as Snow Water Equivalent – SWE) is 45% of the 30-year median as of June 1. Reclamation projections indicate that the Lower Basin will be operating in a Tier 1 shortage condition in 2026, with an 18% reduction to the Arizona Colorado River water supply of 512,000 acre-feet. If extremely dry conditions continue, however, Reclamation may initiate consultation with the Colorado River Basin States to further reduce the Powell release, which will trigger additional supply reductions in the Lower Basin in 2026.

Who will be impacted by this shortage declaration?

This shortage declaration continues to affect deliveries of CAP water in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties, primarily to agricultural water users. Some water providers who deliver potable (drinkable) CAP water to residents and businesses in these counties may see very small reductions in 2026. However, as noted above, none of Arizona Water Company’s Colorado River supplies delivered through the Central Arizona Project (CAP) canal are impacted by the Tier 2a shortage condition in 2026.

How does this shortage declaration affect Arizona Water Company customers?

Potable water deliveries to Arizona Water Company customers are not expected to be affected at this time. Arizona Water Company’s primary source of water is groundwater pumped from wells. Arizona Water Company does have multiple contracts to use CAP water which are used to offset our groundwater pumping for most of our water systems located within Maricopa and Pinal counties.

What else is happening related to the Colorado River?

The criteria, or rules, that govern the operation of Glen Canyon and Hoover Dams will expire at the end of 2026. The Colorado River Basin States, Tribal Nations, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) have been meeting to discuss how the operating criteria will need to be changed to address the continuing drought and reduced water availability. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), analyzing various operating alternatives is currently planned for public release at the end of 2025, and a final Record of Decision is expected at the end of 2026.

What is causing the shortage on the Colorado River?

For more than two decades, the Colorado River Basin has been experiencing aridification, the process where a region becomes more and more dry, causing a wetter climate to turn into a dryer one. This results in reduced snowpack (the total snow and ice on the ground) and runoff (melted snow and water that does not soak into the ground but instead flows over the land). This causes a reduction in the water supply. Current conditions are the driest experienced in the basin in more than 1,200 years. Since 2020, Arizona efforts to conserve Colorado River water have resulted in over 3.3 MAF of water savings in Lake Mead. Continued conservation efforts by all Colorado River water users are necessary to avoid catastrophic water supply reductions.

Should I conserve water?

Water conservation is an important way to help preserve all our water resources. In fact, as a state, Arizona uses about as much water today as we did in 1957. This is partially due to conservation efforts throughout the state. We are proud of the efforts of our residents and businesses to conserve water, and we encourage everyone throughout the state to use water wisely. More information on water conservation and water-saving tips can be found at: https://www.azwater.com/conservation/