Arizona Voters’ Perspectives on the Water Crisis & Potential Solutions
In a new statewide survey, likely Arizona voters expressed serious concern over water issues facing the state, saying water is the top issue with nearly one in four placing the issue above high prices, education, and immigration. Nearly 65% of survey respondents continue to believe the state is in a drought, defined as a period of low rainfall leading to a shortage of water. And overall, nearly 74% of likely Arizona voters agree groundwater is essential for communities, farming, industry, and Arizona’s way of life.
Arizona voters are not just concerned about overuse and lax regulations—they also want the Legislature to pass solutions to protect the eighty percent of the state that currently has no groundwater protections.
Respondents were asked about Local Groundwater Stewardship Areas, a proposal to empower local communities to create locally tailored groundwater solutions. (LGSAs) allow rural communities to choose groundwater tools that meet their specific needs, instead of being restricted to choosing between the rigid Active Management Areas (AMAs) or the status quo of unlimited pumping. Respondents expressed overwhelming support (77.6% statewide, 78.6% rural) for such common-sense action, with majority of individuals across all political affiliations, geographic regions, and age groups endorsing it.
Other results from the survey found:
- 74.8% of likely voters statewide, and 82.9% of likely voters in rural areas, said the State of Arizona won’t have enough water for residents, agriculture, industry, and other businesses for the next 100 years.
- 74.6% of likely voters agree that our aquifers need protection from international and out-of-state interests.
- 72.6% of likely voters statewide, and 75.2% of likely voters in rural areas, believe that our elected statewide and legislative leaders are not delivering results necessary to protect Arizona’s water future.
- 68.2% of likely voters statewide, and 59.2% of voters in rural areas, would even support new Active Management Areas across the state, in the absence of another alternative to unregulated groundwater pumping.
- 63.6% of likely voters statewide, and 69.2% of likely voters in rural areas, said the current water issues facing the state of Arizona are a major crisis/serious issue.
These results demonstrate that voters understand the severity of the water crisis and are eager for the legislature to protect what’s left of our most valuable resource and provide the tools necessary to help Arizona adapt to a drier future. Currently in front of the Arizona Legislature is an opportunity to provide all Arizona communities with the tools needed to manage, protect and conserve their groundwater, as well as adequately fund projects that would boost groundwater reliability. Voters are concerned about water security and want their lawmakers to act.
Methodology: The results are based on a statewide public opinion survey of 500 likely Arizona voters conducted by HighGround Public Affairs. The survey of likely Arizona voters is balanced across age, party, and regional demographics to reflect 2022 turnout. The survey was conducted between April 5-17, 2023 by professional live interviewers calling on landlines and cell phones. The 500 sample has a margin of error of ±4.36% with a 95% confidence interval.