Study suggests water in southwestern U.S. may dry up sooner than expected

PHOENIX - Since man first walked through the Valley of the Sun, water has been a hot commodity in these desert climates, but a new report suggests water may become scarce in Arizona sooner rather than later... perhaps in the next 25 years.

"California and Arizona at least, probably all of the states in the region are busted if they don't change their ways," said Frank Ackerman, with the Stockholm Environment Institute.

The study, conducted by SEI, shows unchecked growth, unrestricted irrigation and a lack of conservation could put the southwestern U.S. in a dire situation.

Add in predicted climate changes, and researchers say we are on the verge of an all out water crisis.

"Just when you think you have enough water, you have to get another huge, additional amount to deal with the fact it's gotten hotter," Ackerman said.

But state water managers told me the situation is not as dire as this study suggests, and assured me Arizona will not dry up in the next few decades.

"We plan to make sure that does not happen. That is not the outcome we desire, and so we will continue to plan," said Sandy Fabritz-Whitney, with the Arizona Department of Water Resources.

They say despite growing demand, the region is able to sustain itself, and thanks to groundwater conservation, the Central Arizona Canal Project and growing reclamation projects, it will for some time.

"We've known a long, long time, since statehood, that this is a dry, arid state. And we do have supplies in state that we haven't completely and fully utilize," Fabritz-Whitney said.

State water managers say with proper planing, the tap will not run dry.

"We do not want that to happen, and we will not let that happen," Fabritz-Whitney state.

To learn more about what the State Department of Water Resources is doing to conserve water in our state, visit their website .