It’s been a long time coming. “We’ve been in a drought on the Colorado River for 20 years,” said Tucson Water Interim Director John Kmiec. “We started seeing major declines in the late 2000s.”
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How long has AZ been in a drought?
Drought in Arizona from 2000–Present
Since 2000, the longest duration of drought (D1–D4) in Arizona lasted 512 weeks beginning on August 18, 2009, and ending on June 4, 2019. The most intense period of drought occurred the week of December 1, 2020, where D4 affected 76.81% of Arizona land.
Is Arizona still in a drought 2021?
The majority of the state resides in Moderate (D1) drought (43%) and Severe (D2) drought (25%). This report was prepared by the Arizona Drought Monitoring Technical Committee on November 8, 2021. Arizona’s short-term drought status map is updated during the first week of each month.
Is AZ still in drought?
Arizona is currently in our 26th year of a long-term drought. Drought in the West is a long-term concept where a single dry year does not constitute a drought.
Is Tucson running out of water?
There is No Water Shortage in Tucson. Tucson Water supplies basically come from wells scattered throughout the greater Tucson Metropolitan Area. Tucson sits on top of a large aquifer that has many, many years of supply available.
What Year Will Arizona run out of water?
“Cities, tribes, agriculture are all part of the fabric of the water community in Arizona and we’ve come together to face this shortage in 2022 together and I’m optimistic we’ll be successful in the long term with this shortage that we all share.”
How bad is the Arizona drought?
Around 60 percent of the West is experiencing extreme or exceptional drought.]In Arizona, after multiple poor rainy seasons, drought conditions are particularly bad, by most measures the worst this century. Thankfully, rains have begun to fall across the state (and how!), but conditions are still poor.
How much rain has Tucson had 2021?
Tucson saw 12.78 inches of rain this monsoon, according to the National Weather Service.
Are Tucson monsoons over?
Tucson’s 2021 monsoon ended as the third-wettest monsoon on record as the season came to a close Thursday. The total amount of rain received during this monsoon, which runs from June 15 through Sept.
Where does Tucson get its water from?
Colorado River water
About 90% of our drinking water is a blend of groundwater and Colorado River water. In its 390-square-mile service area, Tucson Water operates: 206 active production or standby groundwater wells.
What states are in a drought 2021?
According to a U.S. Drought Monitor map published by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the 11 states experiencing extreme drought conditions are New Mexico; Arizona; California; Nevada; Utah; Oregon; Washington; Montana; North Dakota; Colorado; and Wyoming.
What is the longest drought in Arizona?
Drought in Arizona from 2000–Present
Since 2000, the longest duration of drought (D1–D4) in Arizona lasted 512 weeks beginning on August 18, 2009, and ending on June 4, 2019. The most intense period of drought occurred the week of December 1, 2020, where D4 affected 76.81% of Arizona land.
Will Phoenix run out of water?
Will we run out of water?” The answer is no.That’s because SRP, Valley cities, the Central Arizona Project (CAP) and the Arizona Department of Water Resources are working together to track drought conditions and plan for a reliable water future.
How deep is the water table in Tucson AZ?
In the central part of the Tucson urban area, water is 100 to 250 feet below the land surface, and the depth to water increases gradually to about 700 feet near the north end of the Santa Rita Mountains (pi.
Is Tucson water safe to drink?
Yes, Tucson’s tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Tucson has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however.
Does Tucson use groundwater?
The southern part of Arizona, especially Tucson is dealing with the problem of land subsidence. Due to the fact that Tucson uses groundwater as its main source of water for the entire city, including drinking, showering, watering, and other uses, the effect that subsidence has on Tucson is immense.
Why is Arizona water so bad?
Water hardness is caused by magnesium and calcium, which are naturally present in the Arizona landscape.Over time hard water will damage the pipes in your home through a process called scale build-up, which can lead to clogging and other serious plumbing issues.
What part of Arizona has the most water?
Colorado River
The Colorado River is Arizona’s largest renewable water supply. Arizona has the right to use 2.8 million acre feet annually of Colorado River water. Mohave, La Paz and Yuma county water users rely on Colorado River as their principal water supply.
What lake is drying up in Arizona?
Lake Mead
Last week, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation made official the crisis at Lake Mead, a reservoir formed by the Hoover Dam and one of the most visible signs of the Colorado River’s decline. The water level in the lake now sits about 1,068 feet above sea level, close to 200 feet below its typical level.
What is the wettest place in Arizona?
Climate. Owing to its high elevation, Hawley Lake has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dsb) and stands as one of the coldest and wettest places in Arizona.
Will there be a drought in 2021?
According to the NOAA U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook, covering September through December 2021, existing drought conditions are expected to persist across the West and western side of the Midwest, in addition to pockets spanning from Texas northward to Nebraska.
