Water is the essence of life, and nowhere is that more clear than in hot, dry Arizona.
The Colorado River is drying up, and Southwestern states are currently engaged in contentious talks — that seem to be going nowhere — over how to divvy up the drought-stricken river’s water in the future. When the current allocation agreement expires after next year, Arizona may find itself in a tough spot, with fewer water rights than it had before.
That’s a problem, but an even bigger one lurks beneath the surface of the state. According to a new study, Arizona is using up its groundwater — water from underground aquifers — faster than any other state in the Colorado River Basin…