Arizona has taken steps to rectify the overuse of water, but it is reportedly still dealing with the fallout after years' worth of groundwater drilling.
Residents of Arizona's McMullen Valley have seen their properties sink, with the communities now three feet or more below what they were in 1991, according to 2023 reporting from the Copper Courier. Almost a foot of that total has come since 2015 when corporate drilling for groundwater began.
Some areas were impacted even more severely.
"The Emiratis are farming and have withdrawn so much water from the ground that the entire town of Wenden has sunk by four feet," Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes told the news outlet. "It's stunning, and it's horrific for the people of Wenden."
Gov. Katie Hobbs revoked a lease for a Saudi Arabia-owned farm, but the United Arab Emirates-based Al Dahra was reportedly one of the companies still allowed to continue drilling under the state's relaxed water laws.
A long-term drought in many parts of the state, which already has a semi-arid to arid climate, has also caused policymakers to reconsider regulations.
Perk up the winter blues with natural, hemp-derived gummies Camino's hemp-derived gummies naturally support balance and recovery without disrupting your routine, so you can enjoy reliable, consistent dosing without guesswork or habit-forming ingredients. Flavors like sparkling pear for social events and tropical-burst for recovery deliver a sophisticated, elevated taste experience — and orchard peach for balance offers everyday support for managing stress while staying clear-headed and elevated.
Learn more → |
Farmers and corporations only had to drill 107 feet in the valley to obtain water back in 1957, according to the Courier. However, that has now increased to 542 feet, and the news outlet noted that more well-funded companies — like Al Dahra, which did not reply to requests for comment — are able to take on the financial burden of digging that deep.
"We've heard reports of homes being cracked because of the subsidence that's been caused by that extreme industrial farming, and that's not OK," Mayes told the Courier. "... We are in the middle of a crisis, and we cannot be using our groundwater that way."
The Environmental Protection Agency noted that Arizona has warmed by about two degrees Fahrenheit over the past 100 years, as the amount of carbon pollution in Earth's atmosphere has increased by 40% since the 1700s.
The agency estimates that this is likely to make water more scarce while simultaneously increasing the need for it.
TCD Picks » Upway Spotlight
💡Upway makes it easy to find discounts of up to 60% on premium e-bike brands
"We're really good at pumping that water out much faster than nature replenishes it," Sarah Porter, a natural resources expert at the Kyl Center for Water Policy, told 12News in Arizona.
To help amend the issue, Mayes reportedly has her eye on reforming Arizona's groundwater laws, while La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin is partnering with other counties to formulate water conservation strategies and obtain funds to study the effects of groundwater depletion on their communities.
"We need to overhaul our groundwater laws so that we have more AMAs [active management areas] in the state of Arizona," Mayes told the Courier at the time.
Early this year during her State of the State Address, Hobbs announced a new "active management area" to help protect groundwater.
"This type of smart growth is our future. We can protect our groundwater supplies. We can build more housing and lower costs. We can continue to be the model for the nation when it comes to water conservation and economic development," Hobbs said.
Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
Cool Picks
