Amid drought, Phoenix plans for a future with less water

Summary

Arizona's city of Phoenix is grappling with water scarcity due to the Colorado River's reduced flow, a consequence of climate change. The city has initiated a comprehensive strategy that includes wastewater recycling, water conservation, and innovative water storage agreements with neighboring cities. Phoenix is also investing in infrastructure to harness groundwater, partnering with environmental organizations for watershed management, and compensating upstream users to conserve water. These proactive measures aim to secure Phoenix's water supply for the future amidst escalating drought risks.

Takeaways

• 🌊 Arizona has passed a Drought Contingency Plan in response to the Colorado River providing less water to the seven states that depend on it.
• 🏕 Phoenix is preparing for a future with less water by implementing water conservation measures and exploring alternative water sources.
• 💧 The city of Phoenix reuses all of its wastewater, treating it at plants and using it for various purposes including wetland irrigation and nuclear power plant cooling.
• 🌱 Phoenix is promoting water conservation by encouraging the use of native vegetation and charging a premium for water use during peak demand seasons.
• 🏡 The percentage of Phoenix homes with grass has significantly decreased from 80% in the 1970s to about 14% today due to water conservation campaigns and cost considerations.
• 🌡️ Climate change is causing a decline in the Colorado River's flow, with a 16% reduction over the past century and projections for even greater losses in the coming 50-100 years.
• 💧 Phoenix has entered into water storage agreements with other Arizona cities, storing excess water in aquifers for future use during shortages.
• 🌱 The city is working with environmental organizations to maintain water levels in the Salt and Verde rivers, which supply Phoenix, through projects like forest thinning and water diversion systems.
• 💸 Phoenix has paid partners to conserve water through a system conservation approach, where water saved is kept in the system for the benefit of all users.
• 🚧 The city has a backup plan to access groundwater, with an estimated 90 million acre-feet available, but this would require significant investment in infrastructure.

Q & A

What is the Drought Contingency Plan mentioned in the script?

The Drought Contingency Plan is a piece of water legislation passed by Arizona that acknowledges the Colorado River is providing less water than before to the seven states that depend on it.

How does Phoenix's water services department handle wastewater?

Phoenix's water services department reclaims and reuses all the wastewater generated in the city for various purposes.

What is the role of the Tres Rios Wetlands in Phoenix's water management?

The Tres Rios Wetlands is a constructed system that receives treated wastewater, helping to reduce chlorine levels before the water is released into a nearby river.

How much water does Phoenix recycle annually for the nuclear power plant and nearby crops?

Phoenix recycles more than 23 billion gallons of wastewater annually for a nuclear power plant and uses an additional 16 billion gallons a year to irrigate nearby crops.

What percentage of Phoenix's homes have grass today compared to the 1970s?

Only about 14% of homes in Phoenix have grass today, down from 80% in the 1970s.

Why has the percentage of homes with grass in Phoenix decreased?

The decrease is attributed to water conservation campaigns and the cost of water, with the city charging a 28% premium for water during the summer when demand is highest.

How has Phoenix's water usage changed over the past 20 years?

Phoenix uses less water today than it did 20 years ago, despite serving 400,000 more people with the same amount of water.

What is the impact of climate change on the Colorado River's flow?

Over the past century, the Colorado River's flow has declined by about 16%, with scientists pointing to climate change as a main reason, leading to less snowpack and less water in the river.

What is the significance of the partnership between Phoenix and the Gila River Indian Community?

Phoenix and the Gila River Indian Community have a partnership where Phoenix paid the community to leave some of its Colorado River water in Lake Mead, contributing to a pay-to-conserve transaction called System Conservation.

How does Phoenix's investment in the Nature Conservancy's projects benefit the city's water supply?

Phoenix's investment in the Nature Conservancy's projects, such as forest thinning and automated water diversions, helps maintain water levels on the Salt and Verde Rivers, which supply the city.

What is Phoenix's backup plan for water supply if other measures fall short?

Phoenix's backup plan involves accessing the groundwater beneath the city, which is estimated to be enough for 300 years of water supply, but would require a significant investment in infrastructure.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 Phoenix's Water Conservation and Recycling Initiatives

The video script discusses the water scarcity challenges faced by Arizona, particularly the city of Phoenix, due to the reduced flow of the Colorado River. Phoenix has been proactive in its water management, with a key strategy being the recycling of all its wastewater. The city's Water Services Department, led by Kathryn Sorensen, treats and reuses wastewater for various purposes, including maintaining the Tres Rios Wetlands, supplying a nuclear power plant, and irrigating crops. The script also highlights the city's efforts in water conservation, with a shift from water-intensive landscapes to water-efficient gardens. Despite using less water, Phoenix serves a growing population, thanks to these conservation measures. The city is also preparing for future water shortages by investing in water storage and infrastructure, and by entering into agreements with other cities and organizations to secure additional water sources.

05:00

💧 Diversifying Water Sources and System Conservation in Phoenix

This section of the script delves into Phoenix's strategies for securing diverse water sources to ensure long-term water supply. The city has storage agreements with Tucson, allowing it to store up to 12 billion gallons of water annually in Tucson's aquifers. Phoenix also engages in 'system conservation' by compensating partners like the Gila River Indian Community for conserving water, which helps maintain higher water levels in Lake Mead. Furthermore, Phoenix collaborates with environmental organizations on resiliency projects to maintain water levels in the Salt and Verde rivers. These projects include forest thinning to reduce sediment flow and the use of automated water diversions to leave more water in the rivers. The city is also supporting the conversion of irrigation methods from flood to drip, which significantly reduces water usage. As a backup plan, Phoenix is considering the use of its vast underground groundwater resources, although this would require substantial investment in infrastructure.

10:02

🌡️ Adapting to a Hotter and Drier Future in Phoenix

The final paragraph of the script underscores Phoenix's preparedness for the impacts of climate change, which is expected to exacerbate water scarcity. Despite the challenges, Phoenix's history of dealing with arid conditions has positioned it well to adapt to a hotter and drier future. The city's proactive measures in water conservation, recycling, and storage, along with its strategic partnerships, are seen as strengths in the face of climate change. The script concludes with an optimistic note on Phoenix's ability to manage its water resources effectively, even as the climate becomes more extreme.

Keywords

💡Drought Contingency Plan

The Drought Contingency Plan is a legislative measure passed by Arizona to address the diminishing water supply from the Colorado River. It signifies a proactive approach to the water scarcity issue, acknowledging the need for a strategic response to the long-term drought. The plan is integral to the video's theme as it sets the context for the city of Phoenix's water management strategies.

💡Colorado River

The Colorado River is a critical water source for seven states, including Arizona. In the video, it is highlighted as providing less water than before, leading to a looming shortage for places that depend on it. The river's reduced flow is a central concern in the video, as it directly impacts Phoenix's water supply and necessitates the city's adaptation strategies.

💡Water Recycling

Water recycling is the process of treating used water to make it suitable for reuse. In the context of the video, Phoenix's water services department reclaims and reuses all the wastewater generated in the city. This is showcased as a key strategy for managing water resources sustainably, with the Tres Rios Wetlands being a prime example of how recycled water is used to maintain ecosystems.

💡Water Conservation

Water conservation refers to the strategies used to reduce water usage. The video emphasizes Phoenix's efforts in this area, including the shift from water-intensive landscaping to water-efficient gardens. This is tied to the city's broader goal of adapting to a future with less water, as conservation becomes a crucial part of daily life and city planning.

💡Desert Lifestyle

A desert lifestyle is characterized by living in and adapting to arid conditions. The video suggests that embracing a desert lifestyle is essential for water conservation in Phoenix. This is evident in the city's efforts to promote water-saving behaviors and the cultural shift towards using less water, as illustrated by the decrease in homes with grass lawns.

💡Climate Change

Climate change is a significant theme in the video, as it is identified as a primary cause for the decline in the Colorado River's flow. The video discusses how a warming environment leads to less snowpack, which in turn results in less water in the river. This ties into the broader narrative of cities like Phoenix needing to adapt their water management strategies in response to climate change impacts.

💡Lake Mead

Lake Mead, America's largest reservoir, is a critical water source for Phoenix, providing about 40% of the city's water. The video highlights the decline in its water levels due to the Colorado River's reduced flow, which is a direct consequence of climate change. The future of Phoenix's water supply is closely tied to the health of Lake Mead.

💡Water Storage

Water storage is a strategy for securing long-term access to water, especially in the face of scarcity. The video discusses how Phoenix and Arizona are storing water in underground aquifers to prepare for potential shortages. This is a proactive measure to ensure water availability for the city's growing population.

💡System Conservation

System Conservation is a strategy where water users are paid to conserve water, which then benefits the entire water system. The video mentions an example where Phoenix paid the Gila River Indian Community to leave water in Lake Mead, thus conserving water for the broader system. This approach is part of the city's broader efforts to manage water resources sustainably.

💡Groundwater

Groundwater is water stored beneath the Earth's surface in aquifers. The video discusses Phoenix's groundwater as a potential backup water source, with estimates suggesting it could provide water for up to 300 years. However, accessing this water would require significant investment in infrastructure, reflecting the city's long-term planning for water security.

Highlights

Arizona passed the Drought Contingency Plan to address the decreasing water supply from the Colorado River.

Phoenix, a desert city, is preparing for a future with less water by implementing innovative water management strategies.

The Tres Rios Wetlands is an example of how reclaimed and reused wastewater supports local ecosystems.

Phoenix's Water Services Department has been reclaiming and reusing wastewater for about 40 years.

All wastewater generated in Phoenix is reclaimed and reused for various purposes.

Phoenix treats wastewater at plants, releasing about 53 million gallons of cleaned water daily into the wetland system.

The city sends over 23 billion gallons of recycled wastewater annually to a nuclear power plant.

Phoenix uses water recycling as part of a larger strategy to secure long-term water access, including storage and conservation.

Phoenix encourages water conservation through desert-adapted landscaping and high summer water rates.

Phoenix uses less water today than 20 years ago, despite serving 400,000 more people.

The Colorado River, which supplies about 40% of Phoenix's water, has seen a 16% decline in flow over the past century.

Climate change is a significant factor in the reduced flow of the Colorado River, with less snowpack leading to less water.

Phoenix is working on water storage solutions, including agreements with other cities to store water in aquifers.

Phoenix has paid partners to conserve water through a system conservation approach, which benefits the entire water system.

The city is partnering with environmental organizations to maintain water levels in the Salt and Verde rivers.

Phoenix is investing in resilience projects, such as forest thinning and automated water diversions, to improve water supply.

The city has a backup plan involving groundwater, which could provide 300 years' worth of water for Phoenix.

Phoenix is considered well-positioned to deal with climate change due to its experience in managing water in a hot and dry environment.

Transcripts

>> Sreenivasan: THIS PAST WINTER

THE STATE OF ARIZONA PASSED A

KEY PIECE OF WATER LEGISLATION.

IT'S CALLED THE DROUGHT

CONTINGENCY PLAN AND IT

ACKNOWLEDGES THE FACT THAT THE

COLORADO RIVER IS PROVIDING LESS

WATER THAN IT USED TO TO THE

SEVEN STATES THAT DEPEND ON IT.

IN FACT, PLACES THAT RELY ON THE

RIVER ARE NOW FACING A LOOMING

SHORTAGE.

WE TRAVELED TO PHOENIX TO FIND

OUT HOW THE GROWING CITY IS

PREPARING FOR A FUTURE WITH LESS

WATER.

THE STORY IS PART OF OUR ONGOING

SERIES "PERIL & PROMISE: THE

CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE."

ARIZONA IS IN IT'S 19th YEAR OF

DROUGHT.

BUT WALKING AROUND THE MORE THAN

400 ACRES OF THE TRES RIOS

WETLANDS JUST OUTSIDE PHOENIX,

YOU'D BE HARD PRESSED TO FIND

ANY EVIDENCE OF THAT.

150 DIFFERENT SPECIES CALL THIS

PLACE HOME FOR AT LEAST PART OF

THE YEAR.

THERE'S LUSH NATIVE VEGETATION,

LARGE PONDS, AND WATER RUSHING

THROUGH MAN-MADE TUNNELS.

SO HOW IS THIS WETLAND STAYING

WET?

>> WE'VE BEEN RECLAIMING AND

REUSING OUR WASTEWATER FOR ABOUT

40 YEARS NOW.

>> Sreenivasan: KATHRYN SORENSEN

IS THE DIRECTOR OF PHOENIX'S

WATER SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WHICH

DELIVERS WATER TO ABOUT

1.5-MILLION PEOPLE.

AFTER IT'S USED SOME OF IT ENDS

UP HERE AT TRES RIOS.

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR OVERALL

WATER FROM PHOENIX IS RECYCLED

SO TO SPEAK?

>> ACTUALLY ALL OF IT.

SO, ALL THE WASTEWATER THAT'S

GENERATED HERE IN THE CITY OF

PHOENIX GETS RECLAIMED AND

REUSED FOR ONE PURPOSE OR

ANOTHER.

>> Sreenivasan: PHOENIX'S

WASTEWATER IS TREATED AT PLANTS

LIKE THIS.

THERE ARE TWO OF THEM IN THE

AREA.

THIS SITE RELEASES ABOUT 53

MILLION GALLONS OF NEWLY CLEANED

WATER A DAY INTO THIS

CONSTRUCTED WETLAND SYSTEM.

THE SERIES OF PONDS HELPS

"POLISH" OR REDUCE CHLORINE

LEVELS IN THE WATER BEFORE IT'S

PUSHED INTO A NEARBY RIVER.

THE CITY SENDS MORE THAN 23

BILLION GALLONS A YEAR OF

RECYCLED WASTEWATER TO A NUCLEAR

POWER PLANT.

AN ADDITIONAL 16 BILLION GALLONS

A YEAR ARE USED TO IRRIGATE

NEARBY CROPS.

THIS WATER RECYCLING EFFORT IS

PART OF PHOENIX'S LARGER

STRATEGY TO SECURE LONG-TERM

ACCESS TO WATER.

TO ACHIEVE THAT, THIS DESERT

CITY IS COUNTING ON WATER

STORAGE AND CONSERVATION.

>> THE THING ABOUT PHOENIX IS

IT'S HOT AND DRY HERE.

IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE HOT AND

DRY HERE, RIGHT.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO SAVE WATER

BECAUSE THEY LIVE HERE, BECAUSE

IT'S PART OF EMBRACING A DESERT

LIFESTYLE.

>> Sreenivasan: DRIVE AROUND THE

CITY, YOU'LL SEE THE

CONSERVATION EFFORTS FROM ONE

FRONT YARD TO THE NEXT.

THESE GARDENS REQUIRE LITTLE OR

NO WATER.

WE DID COME ACROSS LUSH

LANDSCAPING AND LAWNS BEING

DOUSED, BUT SORENSEN ESTIMATES

THAT ONLY ABOUT 14% OF HOMES

HAVE GRASS TODAY, DOWN FROM 80%

IN THE 1970s.

SHE CITES NOT ONLY WATER

CONSERVATION CAMPAIGNS, BUT ALSO

THE COST OF WATER, AS TWO OF THE

BIGGEST REASONS FOR THE CHANGE.

SINCE 1990 THE CITY CHARGES

RATEPAYERS A 28% PREMIUM FOR

WATER IN THE SUMMER WHEN DEMAND

IS HIGHEST.

AND PHOENIX'S EFFORTS AT

CONSERVATION ARE PAYING OFF.

>> WE USE LESS WATER TODAY THAN

WE DID 20 YEARS AGO BUT WE SERVE

400,000 MORE PEOPLE WITH THAT

SAME AMOUNT OF WATER.

>> Sreenivasan: THOSE SAVINGS

ARE CRUCIAL FOR A GROWING DESERT

CITY WITH MOUNTING PRESSURE ON

IT'S WATER RESOURCES.

PHOENIX IS SERVED BY THREE

RIVERS: THE VERDE, THE SALT AND

THE COLORADO.

THE COLORADO, WHICH ORIGINATES

FROM SNOWPACK SUPPLIES LAKE

MEAD.

IT'S AMERICA'S LARGEST RESERVOIR

AND PROVIDES ABOUT 40% OF THE

CITY'S WATER.

BUT THAT SOURCE IS UNDER THREAT.

OVER THE PAST CENTURY THE

COLORADO RIVER'S FLOW HAS

DECLINED BY ABOUT 16%.

SCIENTISTS POINT TO CLIMATE

CHANGE AS A MAIN REASON.

A WARMING ENVIRONMENT MEANS LESS

SNOWPACK AND LESS WATER IN THE

RIVER.

THEY PROJECT EVEN GREATER LOSSES

OVER THE NEXT 50-100 YEARS.

THIS MEANS LESS WATER IN LAKE

MEAD.

LEVELS HAVE DROPPED 120 FEET

OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, AND THE

FEDERAL BUREAU OF RECLAMATION IS

PROJECTING A SHORTAGE AS SOON AS

NEXT YEAR.

>> WE ARE VERY AWARE THAT

CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAPPENING,

THAT WE HAVE INCREASED RISK OF

DROUGHT AND ALSO THAT MORE OF

OUR PRECIPITATION IS GOING TO

COME IN SHORTER, MORE INTENSE

EVENTS.

>> Sreenivasan: KATE GALLEGO IS

THE RECENTLY ELECTED MAYOR OF

PHOENIX.

YOU GET A GOOD CHUNK OF YOUR

WATER FROM THE COLORADO RIVER

AND THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN

THAT THOSE LEVELS AT LAKE MEAD

ARE GOING DOWN FURTHER AND

FURTHER BEYOND WHAT PEOPLE WERE

EXPECTING.

WHAT HAPPENS TO PHOENIX'S WATER

SUPPLY IF THE COLORADO STOPS

GIVING?

>> WE ARE INCREDIBLY LINKED WITH

THE COLORADO RIVER AND IT HAS

BEEN DECLINING AT LAKE MEAD AT A

FASTER RATE THAN WE EXPECTED.

WE'RE TRYING TO THINK LONG TERM.

SO WE ARE STORING MORE WATER AND

INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE TO

BE ABLE TO GET THAT OUT.

>> Sreenivasan: FOR MORE THAN 20

YEARS, ARIZONA'S WATER STORAGE

AGENCY HAS BEEN SAVING THE

STATE'S UNUSED COLORADO RIVER

ALLOTMENT IN UNDERGROUND

AQUIFERS.

IT NOW HAS ABOUT HALF A YEAR'S

WORTH OF WATER THAT CAN BE

SHARED WITH CITIES INCLUDING

PHOENIX SHOULD THERE BE A WATER

SHORTAGE.

BUILDING ON THIS IDEA, PHOENIX

HAS STRUCK ITS OWN SEPARATE

WATER STORAGE AGREEMENTS WITH

OTHER ARIZONA CITIES.

TAKE ITS ARRANGEMENT WITH

TUCSON.

PHOENIX USES ONLY 2/3 OF THE

WATER IT IS ENTITLED TO FROM THE

COLORADO RIVER.

SO IT STORES UP TO 12 BILLION

GALLONS OF WATER EVERY YEAR IN

TUCSON'S AQUIFERS.

TUCSON CAN THEN USE THAT WATER

WHEN IT FACES A SHORTAGE.

IN EXCHANGE, PHOENIX WILL GET TO

USE FUTURE COLORADO RIVER WATER

THAT IS ALLOCATED TO TUCSON.

>> SO WE GO OUT AND ACQUIRE

SUPPLIES EVERY CHANCE WE GET.

WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE A DIVERSE

BASKET OF THEM.

MORE THAN WE NEED TODAY TO MEET

OUR DEMANDS SO THAT WE CAN

PROVIDE FOR THE FUTURE.

>> Sreenivasan: THAT SOMETIMES

MEANS PAYING PARTNERS TO

CONSERVE WATER.

HAVE YOU IN YOUR LIFETIME SEEN

THIS RIVER FLOWING?

>> VERY RARELY.

>> Sreenivasan: STEPHEN LEWIS IS

THE GOVERNOR OF THE GILA RIVER

INDIAN COMMUNITY.

THE RESERVATION IS JUST SOUTH OF

PHOENIX AND HOME TO THE AKIMEL

O'ODHAM AND PIIPAASH TRIBES.

DECADES OF UPSTREAM WATER

DIVERSIONS LEFT THIS THREE MILE

STRETCH OF THE GILA RIVER DRY

UNTIL JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.

NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE

COMMUNITY, THE FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT AND ARIZONA TO

PROVIDE WATER ACCESS LED TO THE

RESTORATION OF TRIBAL WATER

RIGHTS AND PAVED THE WAY FOR

THIS RENEWED RIVER FLOW.

>> THIS IS A WORKING AQUIFER.

IT RECHARGES WATER WHICH BUILDS

UP OUR GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES, BUT

ALSO THIS ALLOWS US TO USE OUR

COLORADO RIVER WATER FOR

CONSERVATION PURPOSES.

>> Sreenivasan: THE COMMUNITY

NOW USES OR STORES ITS FULL

ALLOCATION OF COLORADO RIVER

WATER IN UNDERGROUND AQUIFERS.

BUT IN 2017, PHOENIX AND SEVERAL

OTHER PARTNERS PAID THE

COMMUNITY $12 MILLION TO LEAVE

SOME OF ITS WATER IN LAKE MEAD.

THIS PAY-TO-CONSERVE TRANSACTION

IS CALLED SYSTEM CONSERVATION.

>> ESSENTIALLY YOU FIND SOMEONE

WHO'S WILLING TO USE LESS WATER,

SOMEONE COMPENSATES THEM FOR

USING THAT LESS WATER.

THE WATER THOUGH THAT'S SAVED,

IT DOESN'T BELONG TO ANYBODY.

IT BELONGS TO THE SYSTEM.

THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED SYSTEM

CONSERVATION.

IT STAYS UP IN LAKE MEAD AND

JUST HELPS BOOST RESERVOIR

LEVELS FOR EVERYONE WHO DEPENDS

ON THAT WATER.

>> Sreenivasan: PHOENIX IS ALSO

PARTNERING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL

ORGANIZATIONS TO MAINTAIN LEVELS

ON THE SALT AND VERDE RIVERS,

TWO BODIES OF WATER THAT SUPPLY

THE CITY.

AN HOUR AND A HALF NORTH OF

PHOENIX IN THE RURAL TOWN OF

CAMP VERDE WE MET UP WITH

KIMBERLY SCHONEK.

SHE WORKS FOR THE NONPROFIT

NATURE CONSERVANCY MANAGING

PROJECTS ALONG THE VERDE RIVER.

>> SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS

CREATE A COLLECTIVE WHERE PEOPLE

CAN INVEST IN THEIR WATERSHED

AND BENEFIT THEIR WATER SUPPLY.

SO OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY

OF PHOENIX IS REALLY ABOUT

MAKING THAT CHANGE AND BRINGING

THIS NOTION THAT DOWNSTREAM

WATER USERS DEPEND ON WATERSHED

ACTIONS AND IMPROVING WATERSHED

CONDITION IMPROVES THE

RESILIENCY OF YOUR WATER SUPPLY.

>> Sreenivasan: PHOENIX IS

CONTRIBUTING HUNDREDS OF

THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OVER THE

NEXT FEW YEARS TO RESILIENCY

PROJECTS HERE.

IT IS THE FIRST CITY IN ARIZONA

TO DO SO, SUPPORTING PROJECTS

LIKE FOREST THINNING THAT

DECREASE SEDIMENT FLOW INTO THE

VERDE RIVER AFTER WILDFIRES.

FUNDING FROM PHOENIX ALSO HELPS

BUILD ON PROJECTS THE NATURE

CONSERVANCY HAS BEEN MANAGING

FOR YEARS LIKE AUTOMATED WATER

DIVERSIONS, OR HEADGATES.

>> SO THE HEADGATES ARE CONTROL

STRUCTURES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO

REGULATE THE FLOW IN THE DITCH

SO THAT YOU HAVE THE AMOUNT OF

WATER THAT YOU NEED AND WANT AND

LEAVING THE REST IN THE RIVER.

SO SOME DITCHES HAVE CUT THEIR

USE BY 25-40% JUST BY

IMPLEMENTING THIS VERY SIMPLE

TECHNOLOGY.

>> Sreenivasan: MORE WATER LEFT

IN THE RIVER BY UPSTREAM USERS

MEANS DOWNSTREAM CITIES LIKE

PHOENIX HAVE MORE IN THE FUTURE.

>> AND THEN THIS IS A VALVE SO

YOU CAN SEE ONE OF THE ISSUES

WITH THE FLOOD IS JUST THE

LEAKING.

>> Sreenivasan: ANOTHER MEASURE

THAT BENEFITS PHOENIX'S WATER

SUPPLY, IN 2015 THE NATURE

CONSERVANCY STARTED WORKING WITH

FARMERS TO CONVERT FROM FLOOD

IRRIGATION, WHICH INVOLVES

RELEASING WATER ONTO A FIELD, TO

DRIP, WHICH APPLIES WATER MORE

DIRECTLY ONTO ROOTS.

>> WE'RE REDUCING THEIR WATER

USE BY 30-40%.

SO THAT HAS A HUGE IMPACT ON THE

RIVER.

>> Sreenivasan: BUT IF

INVESTMENTS, CONSERVATION AND

WATER AGREEMENTS FALL SHORT,

KATHRYN SORENSEN AT THE PHOENIX

WATER DEPARTMENT SAYS THE CITY

HAS A BACKUP PLAN.

>> THE GROUNDWATER BENEATH US,

THE MOST RECENT ESTIMATE I GOT

FROM THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF

WATER RESOURCES IS THAT THERE IS

90 MILLION ACRE-FEET.

>> Sreenivasan: THAT'S 300 YEARS

WORTH OF WATER FOR PHOENIX.

BUT ACCESSING THAT WATER WILL

REQUIRE A SIGNIFICANT

INVESTMENT-- AN ESTIMATED

$500-MILLION TO DIG DEEP,

EXPENSIVE WELLS AND INSTALL

PIPES TO CARRY WATER TO AREAS

THAT MAY BE CUT OFF IN THE

FUTURE.

IN JANUARY, THE CITY COUNCIL

APPROVED A RATE HIKE THAT WOULD

HELP FUND THE NEW

INFRASTRUCTURE.

ITS AN INVESTMENT AGAINST A

WARMER FUTURE THAT THE CITY

KNOWS IS COMING.

>> ODDLY I THINK THAT THAT

PHOENIX IS BETTER POSITIONED TO

DEAL WITH CLIMATE CHANGE THAN A

LOT OF OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE

COUNTRY AND THE WORLD.

I KNOW THAT SOUNDS STRANGE, BUT

I THINK WE'RE JUST, WE'RE ALWAYS

IN THE TRENCHES HERE, WE ARE

ALWAYS IN THE TRENCHES.

IT IS ALWAYS HOT AND DRY HERE

AND PREPARING FOR A FUTURE WHERE

IT'S GOING TO BE HOTTER AND

DRIER.

WE KNOW HOW TO DO THAT.