Population Growth

A comprehensive summary of the projects underway or under consideration to secure new water supplies for Arizona communities.

Learn how and why land use choices such as agriculture, industrial enterprise, housing and natural open space are the primary factors in defining demand for water in central Arizona and explore the interactive map showing the average water-use intensity of community water systems throughout the region. 

To ensure long-term supplies, Arizona has imposed limitations on future housing developments in the Greater Phoenix area that rely on local groundwater. This report explains these limitations and explores whether and how these limits will impact housing affordability.

The Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD) was created to enable groundwater-reliant urban growth in areas that lacked access to renewable supplies. This critical analysis examines how CAGRD has shaped urban growth and water policy over the past 25 years, outlining reforms to strengthen the state's water future amidst CAGRD's long-term sustainability challenges.

Arizona's 2023 groundwater model for the Phoenix AMA concluded that the region had reached the limits of physically available groundwater. This report explains the implications of that finding and what it means for continued development.  

For over three decades, rigorous groundwater management combined with regulations requiring renewable water supplies for growth have helped ensure water resilience for Greater Phoenix. As the region confronts new water supply challenges, continuing groundwater protection may require changes to the rules for managing groundwater in the Phoenix Active Management Area.