Is a Water Crisis Gripping the Grand Canyon State?
One of the most frequent questions we get asked by out-of-state buyers is “Does Arizona have enough water?”. I am not going to attempt to definitively answer that question because there are too many contributing factors to consider, and of course, I don’t have the qualifications to do so. However, I think it is important to understand the current water supply dynamics in the state and what is being done, specifically here in the Phoenix Metro area, to plan for an uncertain future given the extended drought we are currently experiencing, the dwindling Colorado River supply, and the potential for continued climate change.
The Salt River is the single biggest source of water for metro Phoenix, and provides about 60% of the area’s needs. It is a large desert river fed by mountain snowfall and natural springs along its 200 mile span east of Phoenix. In the early 1900s, a series of dams were constructed on the Salt River and those reservoirs serve as Phoenix’s main water supply. However, the north side of Phoenix is still supplied by water from Lake Mead on the Colorado River just east of Las Vegas. Arizona gets 36% of its water supply from Lake Mead. But the falling lake levels are forcing the state and the city of Phoenix to make alternative plans for its future water needs.
Enter the Central Arizona Project, the 17-feet-deep and 80-feet-wide concrete aqueduct which carries water from the Colorado River to Phoenix, Tucson, and elsewhere. It was quite a feat of engineering when it was finished in 1993, snaking across the severe desert landscape for 336 miles as it pumps water up 2,900 feet in elevation.
Beyond the Salt River, Phoenix has undertaken some innovative water strategies. Among the first of these was the Arizona Water Bank. California is entitled to 4.4 million acre-feet of water a year from the Colorado, but because Arizona was not using its full allotment of 2.8 million acre-feet, its excess water was being gladly consumed by our California neighbors. The water bank, a unique system of underground storage, was created in 1996 as a way to store Colorado River water that the Grand Canyon state couldn’t use immediately, rather than letting it flow through to California.
Arizona has since created seven water banks, largely in empty underground aquifers. A series of large pools has been built above the aquifers and, as water is pumped into them, it slowly leaches through a layer of gravel and rock and fills the aquifer. So far the water banks have stored 3.6 million acre-feet in 28 sites across three counties — more than a year’s worth of Colorado River water.
In addition, other aquifers underneath Phoenix are brimming with 90 million acre-feet of water - some natural, some pumped in - and enough to last the city for years. One problem is that much of it is contaminated, both from natural sources of arsenic and chromium, and from the city’s many Superfund sites, which include manufacturing sites polluted by industrial solvents and unlined landfills that contain hazardous waste. Despite this, city officials dismiss the cleanup challenges as surmountable.
Phoenix also recycles almost every drop of wastewater that journeys through its system. The vast majority of it — more than 20 billion gallons of recycled water a year — goes to cool the Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant. Another 30,000 acre-feet is traded to an irrigation district as gray water to use on agricultural fields and the district, in turn, sends potable water from the Salt River to the city.
For now, though, Phoenix appears to have positioned itself well for a new era of drought. The people of the Phoenix metro area are adapting to the desert by using far less water per capita. “We’ve decoupled growth from water,” says Kathryn Sorenson, Phoenix’s Water Services Director. She added, “We use the same amount of water that we did 20 years ago, but have added 400,000 more people.” In 2000, 80% of Phoenix homes and businesses had lush green lawns; now only 14% does. The city has done this by charging more for water in the summer. Per capita usage has declined 30% over the last 20 years.
The future of water supply remains at the forefront of concerns for state and metro officials as Arizona continues to be one of the fastest growing states in the country. Conservation and sourcing innovation efforts will continue to expand, as we face unprecedented drought conditions and continued climate change.
CURE
In Arizona, our purchase contract contains a CURE clause. When one party fails to perform (or breaches the contract), a cure notice can be issued. The breaching party has 3 days in which to cure the breach or they forfeit their earnest money and can be sued for damages.
An example is a buyer whose lender is not able to fund the loan in a timely manner to close. The buyer is required to notify the seller (through their agents). Every attempt is made by the agents to move the process along, but sometimes it is out of everyone’s control except for the lender. The seller can extend the closing date if desired, or they can issue a cure notice. If the buyer fails to close on time after the cure notice has been issued, the buyer will forfeit their earnest money.
Conversely, a seller can breach. An example would be the seller decides they are not going to sell. The buyer has already paid for the inspections and appraisal, and possibly incurred costs to move. The buyer can issue a cure notice and if the seller does not follow through with selling, the buyer may file a lawsuit for damages. We make it a practice to know the contract and help our clients through the process. As much as we want everything to flow smoothly, some things are out of our hands. That’s one more reason to use an experienced real estate agent – we’ve seen and helped clients work through bumps in the road to getting their dream home!
For more information, just email us at info@thekolbteam.com.
Searching for That Perfect Home?
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Not All Realtors® Are Created Equal!
When it comes to quality of service, The Kolb Team does more for you!
- Our team knows the local active adult communities better than anyone else because all of us live, work, volunteer, and play in Sun Lakes.
- We have a full-time licensed real estate assistant to help with all steps of the transaction to make sure you don’t miss any costly deadlines, avoid delayed closings, and reduce your stress.
- We forge relationships with our clients, and we go the extra mile to help with signing and we even drive our clients to appointments and more.
- Unlike other agents, we return all phone calls and messages promptly.
- We have a vast network of trusted and time-tested vendors for everything you need to prepare your house for sale, including repairs, and we help coordinate it all even if you are out of the area.
- We offer the most competitive commission rates in Sun Lakes.
- Other agents might offer discounts and little service. We offer the most competitive rates and never discount our service.
To us you are more than a transaction. Experience the difference!
Recipe of the Month
Orange Julius
A refreshing summer drink.
Ingredients:
- 1 6-oz can of frozen orange juice
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 egg
- 10-15 ice cubes
Blend all ingredients until smooth and serve.
Vendor of the Month
Code 3 Junk Removal provides services to residential and commercial clients and is proudly owned by a firefighter. They can remove pool fences, hot tubs, sheds, furniture, and general household items. Need your garage cleaned out? Give Cade Swallows at Code 3 Junk Removal a call (480-431-0685) or visit their website.
- Chandler buyers looking for a home on the golf course in Oakwood, Ironwood, or Palo Verde with a south facing backyard.
- East Coast buyers looking for a home in one of the Sun Lakes gated communities. 2BR, 2BA with a den or office. Prefers it to be somewhat updated.
- California buyers looking for a home in Cottonwood. 2BR, 2BA around 1,800 square feet.
- Seattle buyers looking for a home with a pool. 3BR 2.5BA. Would like to be in one of the Sun Lakes gated communities or Pebble Creek.
Be Water-Wise With This H2O Info
On the average, most American households use about 300 gallons of water per day (according to the Environmental Protection Agency). Since only 3% of water on the Earth’s surface is freshwater, and of that, only 0.5% is available for use, being mindful of where household water may be wasted is a good idea. And these tips could even shave off some charges on your utilities!
A dripping faucet, running toilet, leaky pipes and hose bibbs, and malfunctioning drip system – really anywhere you have plumbing fixtures – can be sources for wasted water. With reports that it’s possible for just one household to leak 10,000 gallons of water yearly this way, it’s worth it to go around the house and yard to look for issues where you can. Also, check your usage for the past and next several months by reviewing old bills or calling your water provider.
It’s possible to catch an issue with the plumbing fixtures you can’t physically inspect, and if you notice a jump in the usage that doesn’t make sense considering what you know about your home’s water use for that time period, you’ll know it’s time to do another inspection or call in a professional.
At one time or another, we’ve all thrown only a few items in the washing machine or dishwasher, and run the cycle. Sometimes we need to, but whenever you can, doing full loads in either appliance will help in conservation efforts. Most have options for a light setting, which runs for a shorter period of time and uses less water. Give the quicker wash a try, and you may find this setting does just as good of a job as the heavy or even normal cycle… and over time, it’ll save precious water and some money to boot.
By now, we’ve probably all heard to turn off the water while brushing our teeth and to not leave the faucet open while hand-washing dishes. And for almost 18 months now, we’ve been vigilant about washing our hands for 20 seconds many times a day, being careful about how we turn off and on the water before, after, and while doing so. During these activities, we don’t realize how much water that is just going down the drain – unused and wasted – mainly because we don’t see it accumulating. Filling up the sink with soapy water and allowing the dishes that cannot be put in the dishwasher to soak for a bit will make things go quicker with less elbow grease when you pick up the sponge to clean those items. And if you hand-rinse the entire load at once (as opposed to each single dish after you’ve soaped it), you’ll save water too! For the ultimate in conserving water, brush your teeth in the shower when you first get under the showerhead; or while the shampoo, conditioner, or soap is working. For the really committed and coordinated, you could polish your teeth while rinsing off soaps and hair products. Just be sure to tilt your head back so you don’t get a mouthful of Suave with your Colgate.
We can sum up the best way to avoid wasting water like this: If you don’t need running water, turn it off. If you need water for a particular task, there are storage vessels, dishpans, sinks with stoppers, cups, watering cans, and a plethora of other containers you can put either potable or non-consumable water in, depending on your needs at the time. There are small things we can all do around our own homes to help avoid wasting this precious resource, and we can’t decide which is the better reason – not wasting water or saving money off our water bill. What do you choose? What do you or will you incorporate into your daily routine to help conserve water?
See What Our Clients Are Saying!
“One REALTOR® team said they would list my home for 315,000… I listed with The Kolb Team at $366,900 and we sold it at full price in 5 days.”
Ron Fishman
- Sun Lakes Oakwood
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Real Estate Update
Wondering about your Neighbor’s Home Sales Price? Find out here to see what sold last month. The report is broken down by HOA, address, and floor plan (if the agent listed the model in MLS).