Several states forced to ration water

 

Christina Nordh

 

Published 14.21 

The river supplies water to 40 million people.

Water levels are now at historic lows, and strict restrictions are being introduced.

"I would like the reductions to be zero, but that is not the reality we face," says water official Tom Buschatzke.

The Colorado River originates in headwaters located 3,100 meters above sea level in the Rocky Mountains.

It stretches 2,900 kilometers across five states in the southwestern US: Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California. Wyoming and New Mexico also contain parts of the mighty Colorado River system, including its tributaries.

Sixteen years ago, the vast Lake Mead reservoir at the Hoover Dam had a
water level of 370 meters above sea level. Today, the level stands at 317 meters—a
drop of 53 meters. That is equivalent to the height of a 15- to 17-story building.

41 billion cubic meters of water have been lost from Lake Mead and Lake Powell between January 2000 and April 2023.

A temporary recovery was observed during the snowy winter of 2022–2023, but the long-term trend is a steep decline.

Drastic cuts

The Bureau of Reclamation, the water authority for the western US, reports that water levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell are lower than at any time since the reservoirs began filling in the 1960s.

Late last week, a new two-year plan regarding water withdrawals from the river was released. It includes drastic cuts for several states. The plan covers Arizona, California, and Nevada and remains in effect until 2028.

It is a ten-year plan, with adjustments made every two years regarding cutbacks.

If no action is taken, the crisis risks worsening further.

California faces the smallest reduction: approximately 543 billion liters. Nevada is required to save 481 billion liters. However, Arizona faces the largest cut, with a requirement to reduce usage by 937 billion liters.

A one-third reduction

The massive volume of water to be saved represents a reduction of about 27 percent for Arizona, 10 percent for California, and 16 percent for Nevada, according to Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University.

"It could have been draconian. I would like the reductions for Arizona to be zero, but that is not the reality we face," Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, told CNN.

Officials in California and Nevada are far from satisfied.

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo says the plan could impact residents in the long run:

"They are sacrificing the health and safety of Nevadans before demanding that the Upper Basin states take equal responsibility for our shared water resources."

Some experts are relieved that a plan is in place, even if only for a short period. Others believe the cutbacks do not go far enough.

The Colorado River supplies drinking water to approximately 40 million people in the western United States; additionally, water from the river is used to irrigate more than two million hectares—an area equivalent to about 2.8 million soccer fields.  

Decades of extreme drought

For more than two decades, the Colorado River has shrunk dramatically due to a prolonged, extreme drought—intensified by climate change, high temperatures, and ever-increasing water demand.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reports that the average American uses up to 380 liters of water per day at home. Usage per person per day is 640 liters in Utah, 550 liters in Arizona, 466 liters in Colorado, up to 380 liters in California, and 307 liters in New Mexico.

The corresponding figure for Swedes is approximately 140 liters of water per person per day.

However, the largest share of water withdrawal in the U.S. goes to agriculture. It accounts for 52 percent, or approximately 12.3 trillion liters. Cities, households, commerce, and industry account for about 18 percent—roughly 4.3 trillion liters.

Water levels dropped by 78 percent

In August, water levels in the Colorado River's two most important reservoirs fell to record lows.

In Lake Mead—the largest reservoir in the U.S.—the water level has dropped by more than 70 percent since the reservoir was filled 90 years ago. In Lake Powell, the water level has dropped by 78 percent.

"This is a dramatic warning signal that the system is at risk of collapse; water levels in the reservoirs could become so low that it is no longer possible to deliver water from them," says Sarah Porter.

Water consumption by data centers—such as those owned by Meta and Google—is not included in the cutbacks, a fact that has upset environmental icon 

Erin Brockovich,

 among others. She writes in *The Brockovich Report* that she has received 230 reports from Arizona regarding various types of data centers and their impacts; Tucson is one of the cities at the top of the list.

"The Colorado River crisis has a blind spot," she writes.

 Several of the states affected by the restrictions are now preparing to take legal action regarding the water savings. If a legal battle ensues, it will likely drag on for years—even as the water levels in the Colorado River appear set to continue declining.