Arizona Halts Growth in Phoenix Area Due to Dwindling Groundwater Supply

Arizona's water agency will stop approving new development that relies solely on groundwater in parts of metro Phoenix due to lagging groundwater aquifers. The state's groundwater law requires the Department of Water Resources to certify that new homes have a safe 100-year water supply before they can be built. The change does not affect existing homeowners, and officials stressed that major cities including Phoenix have ample supplies and can continue to grow. $40 million in repurposed federal COVID-19 recovery funds will go toward a new ADWR-administered fund, the Arizona Water Resiliency Fund, to promote groundwater conservation and seek sustainable water supplies.