May 12, 2025
Experts:
Rapid economic and population growth in Arizona’s dry central valley has created tremendous wealth and opportunity. Rapid development also has caused many state and national leaders and several members of the media to declare the region “out of water” and to demand an end to growth as the solution. Like other southwestern states, it is clear the valley is in need of more water than the Colorado River alone can reliably support. There are other water supplies available, however, given the means to use them. Development and growth do not need to be curtailed.
Given the relatively small water needs for most non-agricultural purposes and for residential development in the water-efficient urban core of our state, Arizona could solve the valley’s water problems with infrastructure — even if that water ends up being relatively expensive and if rural agriculture continues demanding the lion’s share of the supply. Current law treats water as a common public good; there have been only limited experiments so far with privatization and exchange. While these markets have not yet been tested, they show promise.
On this episode of Common Sense Digest, Glenn Farley joins Chairman and Host Earl Wright to discuss our research report “Arizona’s Urban Desert Miracle” and unpack the issues surrounding water in the desert, the creativity required to address those issues, and how Arizona can move forward with a growth mindset while ensuring enough water for all.
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