Scottsdale evaluating impact of new Colorado River rules

The federal government has announced new rules for managing the Colorado River after 2026, including reductions in water available to some states and water users. For Scottsdale, however, the announced reduction does not mean the city's water supply will be reduced by the same percentage.

The federal decision provides an important framework for how the Colorado River will be managed in the years ahead. Scottsdale Water is now reviewing the decision and working with the Central Arizona Project (CAP) and other agencies to determine exactly what it means for Scottsdale's water supply.

What does this mean for Scottsdale?

The short answer is: We need to do more analysis before we know the full impact.

The percentage reduction announced by the federal government is not a direct percentage reduction in Scottsdale's water supply. The actual impact will depend on which Colorado River water supplies are reduced, how much they are reduced and how those reductions are allocated among different water users.

Scottsdale has more than one source of water

Scottsdale has relied on Colorado River water as an important part of its drinking water supply for decades. But the Colorado River is not Scottsdale's only source of water, and a reduction in Colorado River supplies does not mean Scottsdale will suddenly run out of water.

Scottsdale has built a diverse water portfolio that includes Colorado River water, Salt River Project water, reclaimed water and groundwater. The city also has water stored underground that can be used to help meet future needs.
Just as important, Scottsdale does not currently use its entire Colorado River allocation. The city typically uses only a portion of the Colorado River water available to it each year, allowing Scottsdale to manage its supplies strategically and store some water for future use.

This means the impact of the federal Colorado River reductions cannot be determined simply by taking the federal percentage and applying it to all of Scottsdale's water use. Scottsdale will need to look at which Colorado River supplies are affected, how much those supplies are reduced and how those changes fit within the city's overall water portfolio.
Scottsdale's diverse water supplies, underground storage and ability to manage how and when water is used give the city additional flexibility as conditions on the Colorado River change.

Scottsdale has stored water for the future

Scottsdale has also stored a portion of its water supplies underground over many years. That stored water provides an additional resource that can help the city manage reductions in water deliveries.

This means that if less water is available to Scottsdale in a particular year, it does not necessarily mean the city will have to reduce the amount of water available to residents and businesses by the same amount.

Other water users also matter

Scottsdale receives Colorado River water through the Central Arizona Project, or CAP. CAP delivers water to many communities, businesses and farms throughout central Arizona.

The amount of water other CAP customers use can affect how much water is available across the system. For example, if some agricultural users use less water than expected, that could affect the amount of water available to other CAP customers, depending on the rules and priorities that apply.

What happens next?

Scottsdale Water will continue its analysis of the federal decision and will work with CAP and other agencies to determine the specific impact on Scottsdale.

The city will evaluate:

• Which Scottsdale water supplies are affected;
  
• How much water could be reduced;
  
• How much water other CAP customers are expected to use;
  
• How Scottsdale's stored water could help manage the changes;
  
• Whether Scottsdale should make changes to its water management strategies; and
  
• What the changes could mean for Scottsdale in the short and long term.

The percentage reduction announced by the federal government is not the same as a percentage reduction in Scottsdale's water supply.

Scottsdale has a diverse water supply, water stored underground and the ability to adjust how it manages its water resources. These resources give the city flexibility as it responds to changes in the Colorado River.

Scottsdale Water will continue to evaluate the federal decision and will share more information with residents as the specific impacts to Scottsdale become clear.