Water issues are at the forefront of the conversation when it comes to Arizona policy. We only have a decade or two left of sustainable water at current usage rates – and serious changes must be made in how we source and manage our water to ensure a long-term future for Arizona. While this problem could be addressed federally, the State of Arizona should invest in novel runoff systems while continuing to pressure California to renegotiate its usage in the Colorado River Compact.
Desalinization efforts in Yuma and in our neighbor states should receive more federal funding to reduce the impact on our limited local sources. Additionally, we should invest in desalinization efforts that tackle our brackish groundwater. Desalinating brackish groundwater is a far cheaper and more efficient process than desalinating seawater.
What has happened in our rural counties where the rivers have dried up or at Lake Powell is horrifying. If we don’t start taking serious steps to address the water issues in Arizona, we won’t have an Arizona.
As your State Representative, long-term water sustainability will always be one of my top priorities. On day one I will introduce Bills to directly tackle our water issues and fight for a sustainable future.
