Half Gone By Craig A. Wilson, Water Management Director
One day while on vacation I had lunch at my favorite mountain getaway, tucked away in the high Sierra’s. One of the menu items, Beef Burgundy, consisting of a large bowl of the most delicious lunch fare in this part of the wilderness. Half way through the bowl, I realized how good this meal was with chunks of beef, potatoes, carrots and plenty of gravy. Then it dawned on me that if I kept eating, this halfeaten bowl would soon be gone. I had reached that point where the bowl was half empty and wondered how to save this delightful meal. That might be the same way we see our water supply. Water has filled our Valley with homes and jobs for all the people who have come here and now call Arizona home. We see that our supply of water is not infinite and is not being replaced drop for each drop used; it could soon be gone. Just one look at Lake Mead and we can see there is not much water left; Arizona will be the first to lose water if the water level in Lake Mead drops much lower. We have seen this coming for a long time. Is something being done? The cities that form our part of the desert have come together under the banner of the Arizona Municipal Water User’s Association (AMWUA), beginning with the Ground Water Management Act. For 46 years now, AMWUA has worked to promote an assured, safe and sustainable water supply. The enclosed figure shows some the tasks taken on in our part of the desert.
The cities of the Valley have built an infrastructure that makes living here possible. This web of pipes that we do not see is vital to us. They have to be maintained to keep water flowing whenever we turn on the faucet or when our smart controller irrigates our landscaping. That is where water conservation provides the biggest impact. Conserving water reduces the stress on the supply of water to and through this web of wells, reservoirs, treatment plants, pumping stations and pipes. It allows the cities to plan maintenance and improvements. Not wasting water is about more than just hoarding water; it is also about making all those components work that reliably bring us safe water day after day throughout the year Of course, I made the best of my bowl Beef Burgundy. Remember, water makes living in the desert possible - make the best of it.