ASU water experts shares thoughts on Hobbs’ water management announcement
PHOENIX, Ariz. (CBS, KYMA/KECY) - We need water to survive in the desert with a smaller, natural supply than other parts of the country. We need to make the most of what we've got.
"I'd be far more concerned if there weren't an announcement like we saw," said Dr. Katherine Sorenson of the Kyle Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University (ASU).
Sorenson said the new rule, announced by Governor Katie Hobbs on June 1, shows that we are thinking ahead about water.
"This is really not about a lack of water. This is about managing our groundwater supply sustainably for the long term," Sorenson expressed.
Water supply is important
The water experts at ASU say assured water supply is important. It's how they define how much water is allocated to each area in development. Developers now will have to build on land that has adequate water for at least the next 100 years.
The Arizona Department of Water Resources says Buckeye and Queen Creek aren't in areas with that much supply. They could be impacted most.
"We wanna make sure that development occurs in a very sustainable and resilient manner. And the assured water supply rules help us achieve that," Sorenson detailed.
The new rules could shift developers back closer to the Phoenix Metro, where they can use the groundwater to build, or they can find their own water supply on the outskirts of the valley. But that can add up.
Increase in price of homes
"It's hard to imagine that the rate of growth will will slow. I just think that where the growth occurs will change and, and the cost of it might change as well," Sorenson spoke.
Dr. Sorenson says this could increase the prices of homes and it could take longer to build them too. That could impact people moving here from other states.
"And so they're always asking, you know, what is there enough water in Arizona," said Sindy Ready, Vice President of the Arizona Association of Realtors.
Ready isn't sure how much more homes will be because of this new rule, but she thinks it won't deter people from moving to Arizona.
"It, you know, it could mean that our prices are gonna go up. In addition to our appreciation, I still think there'll be good values for homes on the outskirts of town," Ready discussed.
