Phoenix gives up delivery of more water from Lake Mead
The city of Phoenix said on July 1 that it would leave an additional 14,000 acre-feet of water in Lake Mead to bring its yearly total so far to 30,000 acre-feet. (Phoenix Business Journal, JULY 1)
This effort is part of the 500plus plan, whose goal is to leave 500,00 acre-feet in Mead every year through 2026. An acre-foot is equivalent to 326,000 gallons of water, or about what 2-3 households use in a year.
The mayor of Phoenix, Kate Gallego, in this artlcle called for “proportional action across sectors”, particularly agriculture, which uses 70% of available water from the Colorado River.
The city of Phoenix has declared a “stage one” water alert and has enacted the first step in its drought management plan. This entails voluntary “intensive” public education and outreach to raise awareness and to encourage residents and businesses to use water responsibly.
This is the first of four stages in the city’s drought management plan.
Arizona is currently in a Tier 1 shortage and its cities will not see any reductions in CAP water until a Tier 2a or 2b Tier is declared, which may take place in 2023 at the present rate of water loss. (author)
