This analysis provides context on Arizona's 1995 surface water law amendments and their lasting impact on water adjudication, following years of legal battles that culminated in a Supreme Court ruling deeming most unconstitutional, as lawmakers revisited these rights in 2020.

This report examines how Arizona's 100-year assured water supply requirement, particularly through the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (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.

Growing attention on water equity is highlighting the need to address disparities and build a more inclusive water future, ensuring all communities have fair, reliable access to safe, clean water.

"The Price of Uncertainty" explores how the ongoing Gila Adjudication creates ambiguity around water rights, posing challenges for businesses, communities, and responsible water planning across Arizona, as decision-makers increasingly prioritize water availability, reliability, and long-term sustainability when evaluating investment sites.

Our new report introduces "Floating Pools," a bold concept for reserved water storage on the Colorado River designed to reduce conflict and avoid litigation between Upper and Lower Basin states, laying the foundation for a durable post-2026 management framework.

Arizona's groundwater safeguard, requiring a 100-year assured water supply for subdivisions, is faltering as shrinking Colorado River allocations strain the replenishment system developers rely on, highlighting an urgent need for reform.

Examining the Colorado River shortage and what it means for water conservation, residential water users, groundwater pumping, utility costs, urban growth, new water supplies, and water rights.

From power and semiconductors to turf, beverages, and data centers, our new report offers a data‑driven look at how major industries use water in Central Arizona—and what those patterns mean for long‑term sustainability and planning.

Report | February 2026

Access to safe, reliable water is the foundation of public health, economic opportunity and quality of life, and affordability is a key aspect of water accessibility. But most community water systems in Arizona depend on revenue from rate-payers to cover operations and infrastructure costs.