Arizona, in general, has fared better with only 15 percent of the state still experiencing drought conditions after the wettest winter in seven years.
Although there has been rain, the threat of a water emergency still looms in the region’s future, said Briana Morgan, Lake Havasu City water conservation specialist.
We’ve been experiencing this for more than 16 years, and concern is growing,” Morgan said.
If this continues for the next decade or so, and if our demand stays where it’s at now or increases, we definitely will reach a critical point.” Lake Havasu’s water supply is almost exclusively tied to the Colorado River and Lake Mead with an annual water entitlement set at 28,581 acre feet.
“Last year demand came in at 10,899 acre feet of water.
“The Bureau of Reclamation is projecting by January 2018 we will be at 1,102 feet, which is 25 feet above the shortage declaration, but, there are a lot of variables and we always have to keep our eyes open,” she said.
“Cuts are looming because Arizona’s bank for 40 percent of its water supply coming (from) Lake Mead are being drained faster than it can be filled,” the report stated.
“Most other cities usually target outdoor irrigation first and that makes sense,” Morgan said.
“We need water flowing into our homes much more than going to our lawns.” “If we factor out commercial irrigation, residential use is still between 60-70 percent,” Morgan said.
This is the biggest area of improvement for our city and for our state.”