The following is an op-ed from Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman which originally ran in the Arizona Republic
Photo Source: AZ Big Media
Few issues unite Arizonans more than water security. Throughout the desert, we understand that water is life and take pride in our culture of conservation.
The careful stewardship of our water has guided our state and our cities, for decades. Arizona uses less water per capita today than it did in the 1950s, even as our population and economy have soared. In Phoenix and Mesa, we have invested heavily in conservation, reuse, infrastructure and groundwater recharge and storage.
While we have long prepared for times of shortage, today we sound the alarm that one of our most important water resources, the Colorado River, is under extraordinary strain.