Arango 1 Jaime Arango Professor Tracy Butler Eng 102-10521 April 13, 2022 The swelling Population is attacking Arizona’s water Arizona has officially established a total population of 7.2 million people living all across the state. In fact, this massive flock of people moved to Arizona, hoping to have better living standards and economic opportunities. The economy will be flourishing with jobs and endless opportunities. But, Arizona's exponential growth in population and businesses will end in constant droughts. Nevertheless, the exponential population growth has impaired Arizona’s likelihood to prosper effectively into the future. How does Arizona’s growing population negatively affect Arizona’s water supply? Arizona’s expanding population requires more water to fuel homes and businesses, meaning water is being consumed at an alarming rate. Stitcher’s a media platform, discussing Arizona’s finite water supply, In a podcast on February 8, 2022, titled “Tribal Home Access to Drinking Water; Arizona Water Cutbacks; Little Rock Nine (Stitcher).” The podcast describes Arizona’s growing population having consumed millions of gallons of water, creating increasing water issues such as rapidly depleting aquifers and groundwater reservoirs. In fact, both aquifers and groundwater reservoirs have decreased significantly since the increase in real estate, such as homes, apartments, and offices. The consumption of water in residential homes averages 146 gallons per day; additionally, businesses, on average, use 22,000 gallons per day to operate toxic machinery (Stitcher). Consequently, homes and businesses increase to accommodate new residents and business owners. As a result of population development and the consumption of water at an alarming rate. A water crisis has begun and is a formula for water shortages across Arizona. Arango 2 In light of this, Arizona’s innovations and growing economy from the current population of 7.2 million has cripple Arizona’s water supply. In Stephen Matter’s article, “Here’s a Look at Arizona’s Rising Economic Prospects,” published on March 14, 2021. Matter’s views Arizona’s growing population has an opening to many windows toward a flourishing and blooming economy. Undoubtedly, thousands of people are able to enter the workforce, and businesses are able to create new products and services. In particular, these companies have produced eco-friendly goods to help reduce the use of natural resources in Arizona (Manner). In which water levels in aquifer and groundwater reservoirs have begun equaling out. Additionally, Arizona’s growing population was praised for its manner to conserve water and its energy advantages in an article titled “Arizona’s Rapid Growth And Development: Natural Resources And Infrastructure,” which was published on March 12, 2006, and written by Arizona’s town hall. Many representatives of Arizona's town hall have seen Arizona’s explosive growth and development having a positive influence on Arizona’s water conversion methods and having improved Arizona’s eco-friendly energy production (Flanagan et al.). Arizona’s population development has improved water conservation plans through innovations in structures, such as implementing and constructing green buildings. It is noted that these buildings are built with environmentally friendly materials and have a built-in optimal resource efficiency, saving vital resources. The establishment of green builds in Arizona has also sparked new conservative legislation such as “The Growing Smarter Plan” (Flanagan et al.). The program has implemented required water plans that estimate to save thousands of gallons of water. This plan, in the start, has found exceeding results and success. But these actions of legislation, construction, innovations, and eco-friendly approaches to saving water, will not be sufficient to stop or slow down the decline in water. It is a well-known reality that Arizona has a limited or finite supply of water in which each drop must be used appropriately. Not to mention that the skyrocketing population has permanently Arango 3 crippled Arizona’s water canals, aquifers, and groundwater reservoirs. It comes as no surprise that this growth in the economy and population is unsustainable. Arizona’s success and triumphs will eventually dry up and disappear into dust. In like manner, Arizona's growing population needs accountable living space in which real estate developers have pitched in new homes and apartments using millions of gallons of water in ongoing construction. PR Newswire, a well-known publisher in New York City, published an article on January 26, 2021, titled, "New Study: Population Growth is Damaging Arizona's Environment." The PR Newswire describes Arizona's growing population as having harmed its native environment since 1982; Arizona developers have paved 1.1 million acres of natural habitats and farmlands (Newswire). Arizona has been expanding its suburban neighborhoods and building massive skyscrapers to accommodate its ever-growing population. In the same fashion, metropolitan areas like Phoenix and Buckeye have constructed countless homes and office buildings for their growing population (Newswire). Despite this, the expansion has created issues for Arizona's water supply since the construction needed to support or sustain the population of 7.2 million residents requires raw resources such as water to build suitable homes and offices. In fact, this massive surge in construction has strained and stretched valuable water that could be distributed to residential homes or water reservoirs (Newswire). Arizona's real estate development has drained the taps dry to build homes where water will not flow. Similarly, Joshua Bowling, a writer at the Arizona Republic specializing in Arizona's suburban life, has published an article published on February 27, 2020, titled "An Insecure supply" of water for Arizona residents. Bowling has evaluated Arizona's present population of 7.2 million people and has determined that this mass increase in residents is unstable and is a leading cause of Arizona's water crisis. Currently, the method of housing the population is the construction of new suburban homes in "dry areas," aka in the middle of the desert far away from dense cities (Bowling). Notably, Arango 4 the suburban housing construction in Arizona has pushed the water supply to its limits since the mass usage of water during the construction of homes has caused significant declines in underground water aquifers. Which, in reality, is the primary source of water for these new suburban homes. This ongoing use of groundwater for expanding real estate will affect residents or occupants of these new homes (Bowling). Ultimately, groundwater aquifers will dry up and leave suburban dwellings without running water. Nonetheless, groundwater pumping aquifers dry will start a domino effect where suburban areas depend on other cities for water. This dependency on water from other populated cities will cause a rapid decline in water levels. On the same note, in an article published on January 4, 2022, titled "with less water on the surface, how long can Arizona rely on what's underground?" by Alex Hager, a reporter for KUNC covering the Colorado River Basin. Hager describes Arizona's growing population as leeches draining away surface water at an alarming rate. Particularly Arizona's development in suburban and metropolitan neighborhoods. In fact, most of these buildings use immense amounts of raw materials like water, wood, concrete, etc., to construct new homes and offices to accommodate the growing population and fluctuation in businesses (Hager). Additionally, these new suburban homes are built a great distance away from nearby lakes, canals, and water treatment plants. This massive distance between water reserves and suburban neighborhoods has created an issue where replenishable water is unavailable for neighborhoods in the middle of the desert (Hager). Worst of all, these new suburban neighborhoods have resorted to groundwater pumping, where water is limited and scarce. It is significant that homes are being fueled by groundwater pumping since this source of water is a massive percentage of Arizona's water supply. If used too often and carelessly exploited, groundwater aquifers will dry up and cripple Arizona's already fragile water system Understandably, Arizona's declining water supply is being used in mass by industrial and commercial agriculture farms to feed Arizona's growing population. During a personal Arango 5 interview with an Arizona resident named Henry Arango. He acknowledged that seventy percent of Arizona's water is used for irrigation on a daily basis and on a massive scale (Arango). This constant over usage and consumption of water has negatively affected Arionza's long-term water supply. These shortcomings of water will become a massive issue for residents and farmers due to Arizona's agricultural industry being the third biggest producer of fruits, vegetables, and other food products (Arango). Nevertheless, Henry speculates that food will increase in price in the next couple of years since the decrease in water in Arizona will deprive water to agricultural farmers. This increase in basic needs like food and water will significantly pressure the already strained water supply. In other words, this constant abuse of Arizona's water supply from agricultural farms will eventually result in relentless water shortages and megadroughts. Not only that, but also, Arizona’s growing population is unsustainable since Arizona has a narrow and limited amount of water available for the future. On May 17, 2021, an article written by Cameron Polom titled “Arizona’s Continuing Population Growth Puts Pressure On Water Supply” speculated that Arizona’s ongoing population growth has negatively impacted the water supply. The reasoning behind this is that water is being used by three primary users: agriculture farmers, industrial businesses, and municipalities (Polom). The leading role in Arizona’s unsustainable growth is agriculture since the rising population requires food to fulfill this new hunger. In fact, agriculture is the preliminary candidate for Arizona’s decline in the water reserve. Approximately eighty percent of Arizona’s water is used for irrigation, and most of the water used during the irrigation process is nonreplenishable, which adds pressure to groundwater aquifers (Polom). Even so, industrial businesses and metropolitan areas have difficulty sustaining water. Both homes and businesses consume massive amounts of water per day but can maintain and sustain water simultaneously. However, the increase in population has strained the amount of water stored Arango 6 in underground aquifers. This strain has negatively affected Arizona’s water supply since aquifers have begun to collapse, rivers are diminishing, and there is less water available for neighborhoods, businesses, and agriculture. Additionally, the split image above displays Arizona’s growing population’s impact on the current water supply use. The enormous rock in the middle of the lake is named Lone Rock, located at Lake Powell, a well-known source of water for Arizona and three other states (Gradilla). In truth, the images display a terrifying look at Arizona’s future. In the right image is the 2017 Lake Powell being forty-eight percent full of water and having the capacity to fuel homes, businesses, and agriculture. But, on the left image is the current state of Arizona’s Powell Lake being overused and driven to a dry husk of its former self by Arizona’s growing population. Now what’s only left of Lake Powell is a forewarning of the consequences of the growing population occurring in Arizona (Gradilla). If lakes, canals, aquifers, and groundwater are not conserved properly at this time, every source of water in Arizona will diminish into dry cesspools. In short, the impact of Arizona’s growing population on the water supply is severe and unfortunate. Arizona will continue to see skyrocketing population growth for years to come. In fact, this growth will leave a permanent scar on the water supply since Arizona has reserved to using groundwater aquifers as an underground water reservoir to fuel growing homes, businesses, and agriculture. But on the other hand, the growing population will aid in boosting Arizona’s economy and drive down unemployment like the need for construction works to build new housing to accommodate the ever-increasing population in Arizona. Arango 7 Nonetheless, this economic growth will be temporary and very costly. The water in canals, aquifers, and underground water reservoirs has declined significantly due to the enlargement in population in Arizona. This unsustainable growth can’t be supported since Arizona has a water shortage due to its ever-growing population. Arango 8 Works Cited Arango, Henry. Arizona Growing Population Affecting Water Supply. 10 Mar. 2022. Bowling, Joshua. “An Insecure Supply: A Lack Of Water Will Shape The Future Of Central Arizona, Especially Maricopa And Pinal Counties.” Proquest, Arizona Republic, 27 Feb. 2020, Ezlib.Gatewaycc.Edu/Login?Url=Www.Proquest.Com/Newspapers/InsecureSupply/Docview/2365005308/Se-2?Accountid=364. Accessed 10 Mar. 2022. Flanagan, Sharon, Et Al. “Arizona’s Rapid Growth And Development: Natural Resources And Infrastructure”.” Arizona Town Hall, 12 Mar. 2006. Gradillas, Meleny. “Study: Stark Picture For Arizona Water Supply, Tucson Could Be Oasis In Desert,” New4tucsion, 25 July 2021, Www.Kvoa.Com/News/Local/Study-StarkPicture-For-Arizona-Water-Supply-Tucson-Could-Be-Oasis-InDesert/Article_6e2765bd-61fa-5180-81c3-4119e43e8a34.Html. Accessed 10 Mar. 2022. Hager, Alex. “With Less Water On The Surface, How Long Can Arizona Rely On What’s Underground?” Kunc, 4 Jan. 2022, Www.Kunc.Org/Environment/2022-01-04/WithLess-Water-On-The-Surface-How-Long-Can-Arizona-Rely-On-Whats-Underground. Accessed 10 Mar. 2022. Matter, Stephen. “Here’s A Look At Arizona’s Rising Economic Prospects.” Az Big Media, 14 Mar. 2021, Azbigmedia.Com/Business/Heres-A-Look-At-Arizonas-RisingEconomic-Prospects/. Accessed 10 Mar. 2022. Polom, Cameron. “Arizona’s Continuing Population Growth Puts Pressure On Water Supply.” Knxv, Abc 15 Arizona, 17 May 2021, Www.Abc15.Com/Weather/ImpactEarth/Arizonas-Continuing-Population-Growth-Puts-Pressure-On-Water-Supply. Accessed 10 Mar. 2022. Arango 9 Pr Newswire. “New Study: Population Growth Is Damaging Arizona’s Environment.” Gale One File, Pr Newswire Association Llc, 26 Jan. 2021, Go-GaleCom.Ezlib.Gatewaycc.Edu/Ps/I.Do?P=Itbc&U=Mcc_gateway&Id=Gale%7ca649661 545&V=2.1&It=R&Sid=Summon. Accessed 10 Mar. 2022. Stitcher. Recovery Residences; Tribal Home Access To Drinking Water; Arizona Water Cutbacks; Little Rock Nine. Colorado Edition Kunc, 8 Feb. 2022, Www.Stitcher.Com/Show/Colorado-Edition/Episode/Recovery-Residences-TribalHome-Access-To-Drinking-Water-Arizona-Water-Cutbacks-Little-Rock-Nine90335160, Disc 252. Accessed 10 Mar. 2022. Podcast.
