Experts: Funding, staffing cuts undermining state’s water agency
In Arizona, there is hardly a more precious resource than water. That’s why some water experts point with alarm to deep cuts in funding and staffing at the state agency tasked with overseeing it, especially after years of drought and with a shortage looming on the Colorado River.
Water trauma: Apprehensive farmers could face radical shortages
The Colorado River may see a shortage as soon as next year, and the probability of one in 2017 jumps to 61 percent. If Lake Mead’s water level drops below 1,075 feet, agricultural users of Central Arizona Project water will see a big cut.
CAP, private utility reach 100-year deal to stabilize water sources
The Arizona Corporation Commission gave its blessing on March 2 to a 100-year water deal that is a contender for a top international prize and is the first public/private water recharge project.
Poll: Arizonans want education, water to be top issues for lawmakers
A poll released Tuesday by the Morrison Institute for Public Policy and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University suggests that education and water are the top concerns on the minds of Arizonans as state lawmakers meet.
Colorado River shortage could increase prices, will hit agriculture hard
Water experts expect Colorado River shortages to kick in within the next two years, which could lead to price increases for customers and big impacts on agriculture.
Water fight: Bill takes Lake Havasu City’s side in fight with state agency
The old saying that “whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting” is ringing true at the Capitol this year as lawmakers wade into a fight between Lake Havasu City and the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority, an independent state agency.
Because water is both priceless and free, defining its value is a paradox
Increased awareness of water scarcity at a global scale has driven efforts to establish a common definition of water’s value. Calls to price water based on its “real value” encounter the problem that there exists no generally accepted formula to determine such a value.
Former Phoenix mayor: Partner with Mexico to desalinate seawater
The former mayor of the nation’s sixth-largest city wants Arizona to form a partnership with Mexico that would build desalination facilities and tap in the ocean’s virtually limitless supply of water.
Yarnell getting donation of pipe for water system
Yarnell's water system is getting a $225,000 donation of pipe for restoration and repair work in the wake of the wildfire that devastated the Yavapai County community last summer.
Net metering battle takes center stage
Statewide political warfare is usually reserved for even-numbered years, targets millions of Arizona voters and follows well-defined partisan boundaries. But the fight over solar energy in Arizona has broken all those maxims this year.
Weighing the risk
Experts say Corp. Comm. needs to dig deeper into cybersecurity threats
Hollywood might make them look easy, or give a false impression about how frequently they happen. But malicious cybersecurity threats to utilities are real, and the Arizona Corporation Commission should adapt to that reality, cyber security experts said Oct. 3.
Regulators propose phase-in for big water rate increases
Some Arizonans, especially those in rural areas, face having their water bills dramatically increase when providers need to finance infrastructure improvements.