For years, Arizona has invested in water storage solutions to prepare for potential shortages. One key strategy allows water users to "bank" surface water and reclaimed wastewater by storing it in certified underground projects in exchange for long-term storage credits. When needed, users can redeem these credits by pumping the water back up—this system will be invaluable as the state faces increasing Colorado River constraints.

The Salt River Project recently completed a major infrastructure upgrade to the Granite Reef Underground Storage Project, one of the largest recharge facilities in the region. This shared venture between the Salt River Project and six valley municipalities has stored more than 1 million acre-feet of water—nearly half on behalf of the Arizona Water Banking Authority, which stores unused portions of Arizona's annual Colorado River allocation for emergency use during shortages.

The new pipeline, which took over a decade to plan and build, now connects the stored water directly to cities, towns, and water users throughout the valley. It links seamlessly with the existing canal system that already delivers water from the Salt and Verde rivers to treatment plants. The timing is critical: as Arizona braces for potential Colorado River cutbacks, this infrastructure enables cities to access their stored reserves.

Granite Reef is just one of many storage basins across central and southern Arizona. Since 1996, partners working with the Arizona Water Banking Authority have stored nearly 4 million acre-feet of water—more than half of what the state consumes annually from all sources. This pipeline project exemplifies Arizona's proactive and innovative approach to securing its water future.