Highlights
- 94% of likely Arizona voters want the legislature to prioritize water security this session, per a Cygnal poll commissioned by Audubon Southwest.
- 69% of voters favor immediate state investment in water security even if it means budget tradeoffs, with support spanning 84% of Democrats, 77% of Independents, and 66% of Republicans.
- A single ocean-desalination plant could cost more than $3 billion; the Water Infrastructure Financing Authority of Arizona currently holds less than half a billion in dedicated funds.
- AMWUA, which represents Scottsdale and nine other Valley cities, is calling on state lawmakers to establish a dedicated revenue source for new water supplies.
Three in four Arizona voters want the state to act on Colorado River water security, according to a poll commissioned by Audubon Southwest and conducted by Cygnal, with 94% of likely voters saying the legislature should prioritize water security this session.
The survey, published Tuesday by the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association via KTAR, found 69% of voters favor immediate state investment even if it requires budget tradeoffs. Only 21% said other priorities should come first. Support crosses party lines: 84% of Democrats, 77% of Independents, and 66% of Republicans back state funding to address Colorado River supply challenges. Separately, AZ Mirror and KJZZ both reported that Arizona voters now rank water supply above immigration and inflation as a legislative concern.
The financial gap is stark. The Water Infrastructure Financing Authority of Arizona is evaluating seven large water import projects, including potential desalination plants in Mexico or California. A single ocean-desalination plant could cost more than $3 billion. WIFA currently holds less than half a billion in dedicated funds.
AMWUA, whose member cities include Scottsdale, Phoenix, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Mesa, Peoria, Avondale, and Tempe, says the math demands a state-level solution. The association argues major investments cannot fall solely on municipal water providers and is calling on lawmakers to establish a dedicated revenue source for new water supplies. AMWUA cities are also actively working to raise Bartlett Dam on the Verde River and expand Advanced Water Purification technology as near-term supply measures.
The association cites Maricopa County's $419 billion GDP in 2025, representing 73% of Arizona's total output, as the economic stake behind the policy debate.
Why does this matter for Scottsdale property owners?
Scottsdale is an AMWUA member city, meaning its water utility is directly tied to the Colorado River supply picture. Without a dedicated state funding mechanism, the cost of new water infrastructure falls to local ratepayers and, ultimately, to the property values and development economics that underpin the Valley's real estate market.
The Arizona Legislature's budget deliberations are ongoing; AMWUA is pressing for a dedicated water-funding line before the session closes.
Around the web
Minimal public engagement; one Reddit post in r/phoenix with modest traction focused on agricultural water consumption data.
Public discussion (links to original posts):
- Reddit · r/phoenix, u/Ok_Bag2192 (199 upvotes · 56 comments)
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- ktar.com retrieved 19/05/2026 21:22
- azmirror.com retrieved 19/05/2026 21:22
- kjzz.org retrieved 19/05/2026 21:22
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 19/05/2026 21:22. Every claim traces to a source.
