Phoenix trainer: region facing historic dryness; city expects reduced Colorado River deliveries

Lara Van Lyth, a water resource specialist and volunteer coordinator for the City of Phoenix, told volunteers in a Phoenix Water Wrangler training that the Colorado River basin is experiencing "some of the driest conditions in over 1200 years," and that Phoenix expects to receive less Colorado River water as a result. Van Lyth said the city is in a Stage 1 water alert, which indicates an "insufficient supply situation that appears likely."

The statement matters because Phoenix relies on multiple sources — local surface water from the Salt and Verde rivers, regional surface water from the Colorado River, and groundwater — to meet municipal demand. Van Lyth said the city’s Water Conservation Office and Water Services Department are pursuing supply-side measures to maintain reliability, including building resiliency, designing for adaptability and diversifying the water-supply portfolio.

Van Lyth described advanced water purification (AWP) as one supply strategy under investigation, saying it is "a method of treating wastewater to such a degree that it would be safe for humans to consume." She also emphasized planning, modeling and preventative maintenance for treatment and delivery infrastructure as part of the city’s approach to reduce vulnerability.

Van Lyth reminded trainees that supply forecasting is uncertain and that water managers must balance supply and demand under conditions that change over time. She urged volunteers to view conservation as part of a broader set of resilience tools the city is using to respond to lower flows and reduced regional deliveries.

The training segment placed the supply outlook in context: Phoenix is coordinating with state and federal partners, including the Arizona Department of Water Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and with neighboring cities in the Valley. Van Lyth indicated these efforts are part of ongoing planning rather than a single, immediate regulatory action.