Groundwater is water found under the surface of the earth between the pores and fractures of sand, gravel, and rock known as aquifers. We have access to a large groundwater resource and a large aquifer under the Phoenix region, and there are groundwater basins across the state of Arizona. Groundwater needs to be carefully managed because it is largely non-renewable on a human-time scale. Surface water from rivers is renewed by rain and snow, unlike groundwater, which is withdrawn much faster than it is replenished in Arizona. It can take decades, hundreds, or even thousands of years to replenish to the level that we have now. It's important to carefully manage it and look out over 100 years to ensure that groundwater is sustainable over that period. To explore changes in groundwater levels throughout Arizona, use the Arizona Water Blueprint tool created by the Kyl Center for Water Policy, one of the pillars of the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative.

Arizona has been at the forefront of sustainable and resilient water management for more than 100 years. The state’s Assured Water Supply program, a result of the 1980 Groundwater Management Act, requires that municipalities within Active Management Areas ensure 100 years of water supply for new development. However, outside of AMAs and INAs, there is still inconsistent regulation on groundwater pumping.

In our 100-year timeframe, we are looking out over multiple generations to ensure that we have that sustainable, secure supply. We've already seen innovations in the way that we conserve, manage, and reuse water, and have grown our diverse water portfolio.