Arizona's water crises

Although this topic is more related to my coursework within the MPA, Arizona's water crises does have significant implications for residents of Arizona and businesses as well. ON Semiconductor has a goal of reducing water usage year-by-year. Setting and achieving such goals are essential in states such as Arizona that are living in a drought and are at risk of decreased water supplies.

According to the Arizona Department of Water Resources, "the has been a Drought Emergency Declaration in the state of Arizona. If nothing is done, the demand for water is expected to exceed the available supply in the next 25-50 years" (ADWR, 2014). There are several reasons why Arizona is in such a condition, but two reasons that have captured my attention include mismanaged regulatory measures and the price of water. Despite being a desert, Phoenix often lives an "oasis" lifestyle with lush gardens, man made lakes, backyard pools, water fixtures, and hyper-green golf courses. Similarly, the price of water in Arizona is strikingly low compared to other states in the nation. Compared to Boston where the average family of four using 100 gallons per person each day pays $65.47, a family of four in Phoenix using the same amount pays $34.29. In fact, water is so heavily subsidized in Arizona that we are only paying for the treatment and transportation cost rather than the commodity itself. While I understand that this is the case for many cities and states around the United States, I believe Arizona must ensure adequate pricing of water to indicate to consumers the scarcity of the resources.

Ultimately, if no action is taken Arizona may face a similar crisis to that of California. Accordingly, residents and businesses of Arizona must educate themselves on water-conservation methods and adopt lifestyles and operations to ensure that the state does not in fact deplete water levels to a dangerous low.