What Happens With Scottsdale Water Impacts Greater Phoenix

By Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego

Scottsdale is at an important crossroads for its water future, and the decisions its leaders make today will impact the entire Valley for years to come.

The federal government has cut Arizona’s allocation of Colorado River water by 30 percent, with even greater cuts possible within the decade. In Scottsdale, that matters a lot: 70 percent of Scottsdale’s water comes from the river.

Both Scottsdale and my city, Phoenix, have wisely prepared for drought. Scottsdale is in Stage One of its drought plan, asking residents to voluntarily reduce water usage by 5 percent, and it’s been a historic leader on advanced water purification. Unfortunately, some Scottsdale politicians want to roll back progress and put the city’s economy and high quality of life at risk.

That doesn’t just hurt Scottsdale, it hurts all of Arizona and Phoenix.

That’s why I support Raoul Zubia for city council. He’s shown that he will be a common-sense, nonpartisan leader Scottsdale needs to safeguard its water future. He understands the consequences, and significant cost, of a diminished water supply.

The disinformation coming from some about advanced water purification is self-defeating and harmful. If we fail to recycle the water we have, we’ll have to purchase water from elsewhere, at an exponentially higher cost. These poorly informed politicians put the rest of us at risk, and they undermine the exceptional leadership Scottsdale has demonstrated on water for decades.

Raoul Zubia will move Scottsdale forward with common-sense, long-term solutions to our heightened water challenges. Our region has planned well, but we risk squandering the security we’ve built and depend on. We need leadership that understands the importance of continuing common-sense planning.

Scottsdale and Phoenix are linked. That’s why I’m asking my neighbors in Scottsdale to continue your city’s track record of wise water planning and vote for only Raoul Zubia in this runoff election by November 3.