Study finds why Colorado River Basin conservation may fall short

A recent analysis that includes Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Denver, suggests a sobering reality: water conservation will not be enough to secure the region’s water future. Interestingly, Denver has implemented temporary drought charges.

Researchers from Arizona State University and Penn State argue that while cities like Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Denver have made significant gains in reducing water use, those efforts may be outpaced by climate-driven declines in supply.

The Colorado River Basin, which serves nearly 40 million people, is under mounting pressure from rising temperatures, prolonged drought and shrinking reservoir levels. The researchers suggest a critical shift in water policy: moving beyond conservation toward a more complex mix of solutions, including wastewater reuse, desalination, and agricultural reform. But these approaches come with steep costs and long timelines.

Dave White, the director of Global Institute of Sustainability & Innovation at ASU joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the critical shift that’s needed in water policy.