How Arizona's water usage could change with new federal plan

Channel: Arizona’s Family (3TV / CBS 5)
Uploaded by Arizona’s Family (3TV / CBS 5) on 20260801
Categories: News & Politics
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About 40% of Phoenix’s drinking water comes from the Colorado River through the Central Arizona Project. Zach Prelutsky looks at how that may soon change. For more Local News from KPHO: https://www.azfamily.com/ For more YouTube Content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIrgpHvUm1FMtv-C1xwkJtw

A new federal plan addressing the receding Colorado River proposes significant water usage changes for Arizona, California, and Nevada, while sparing the four upper basin states [00:00]. Unacceptable Proposal: Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has criticized the proposal, signaling that this is likely only the beginning of a prolonged conflict [00:13]. Projected Cuts: The federal plan outlines cuts of up to 3 million acre-feet of water from Arizona, California, and Nevada over the next decade—an amount comparable to nearly 1.2 million Olympic-sized swimming pools [00:54]. Impact on Cities: According to Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy, municipalities affected by the cuts will need to secure water elsewhere at an additional cost [01:10]. Many greater Phoenix area cities plan to rely on stored groundwater, treating it similarly to a deep emergency savings fund [01:21]. Timeline and Next Steps: The proposed cuts would not begin until October, with operating guidelines scheduled for release every two years [01:37]. While the state may face substantial total cuts—such as 760,000 acre-feet in a given year—determining how those reductions are distributed internally across the state remains a critical upcoming question [01:53]. A forthcoming record of decision is expected to provide specific details regarding cuts over the initial two-year period [02:09]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCXbeaxSAVM How Arizona's water usage could change with new federal plan Arizona’s Family (3TV / CBS 5) · 196K views

Viewer Discussion & Comments

@jrobinson5661

If our leaders don’t address the data centers and farms that grow non-essential grains, then the people need to rise up and protest until they do.

@jgjohnny7964

note that Arizona has 98 currently operating Data Center facilities, with a total of 184 when factoring in those actively being built or planned.

@vectorwolf

Imagine how much water they could save if they gutted and shut down every golf course and data center. Just imagine...

@roytallericoGunner

It's amazing how they keep over building with no water supplies to back it up. They install water faucets and expect water to come out no matter what.

@Lauren-vd4qe

STOP irrigating 14,000 acres of desert land to grow alfalfa shipped to saudi arabia! they stopped growing it IN their OWN cointry bc they ran out of water to do it, now its happening in the sw usa!!!

@hoglefish

Why on earth are we growing cotton and hay in the desert???

@MichaelDebalski-mk6bt

😂 Now the Data Centers will take priority over humans for water !

@kevinferguson3196

You build in a desert and then wonder why lack of water is sooner or later an issue?

@msx701

Arizona needs to stop growing alfalfa for the Arabs to start with…..

@Dr-Mantis-Tobogan

And the water wars start....

@mcelroychandler6267

Farmers use 72% or so of our water, so where do you think the cuts will hit???

@w.m.5219

AND TECH IDIOTS WANT TO BUILD "DATA CENTERS", WHAT A JOKE...YHVH

@DavidSmith-tu1nd

Let's build more new houses with Kentucky bluegrass grass. That goes with business parks with all the grass.

@akkdm1

Let’s expand the TSMC chip plants while we’re at it!

@charliebyerly3931

I'm in AZ. No dishwasher. No pool, dirt in backyard, gravel in front. A palm in back and 3 drought tolerant shrubs and tree. Haven't watered any plants for years. Out front I have one planted fountain grass, and one volunteer - the volunteer is watered by the a/c runoff pipe. I do one big wash once a