Arizona Colorado River Cuts: By the Numbers
The scale of Arizona’s Colorado River challenge becomes much clearer when you look at the numbers.
760,000 acre-feet
Arizona’s proposed annual Colorado River reduction for 2027 and 2028 under the Lower Basin states’ sharing agreement.
61%
Arizona would account for approximately 61% of the 1.25 million acre-feet in annual Lower Basin reductions under that state-by-state agreement.
440,000 acre-feet
California’s proposed annual reduction — significantly less than Arizona’s despite California having the largest Colorado River allocation among the Lower Basin states.
50,000 acre-feet
Nevada’s proposed annual reduction.
1.25 million acre-feet
The total amount of Colorado River deliveries to the Lower Basin states that will be reduced each year in 2027 and 2028.
700,000+ additional acre-feet
The Lower Basin states are also expected to voluntarily conserve and store at least another 700,000 acre-feet over the two-year period to help protect the Colorado River system.
40+ million people
More than 40 million people depend on the Colorado River, along with 30 tribal nations and approximately 5.5 million acres of farmland.
26 years of drought
The Colorado River Basin has experienced an unprecedented multidecadal drought for approximately 26 years.
Record-low snowpack
Federal officials report that conditions worsened in 2026 following the lowest observed snowpack on record during the winter of 2025–2026.
12.9 million acre-feet
From 2000–2024, average Colorado River inflow was approximately 12.9 million acre-feet annually — dramatically below the roughly 18 million acre-feet of estimated average inflow from 1906–1921 that helped shape the original Colorado River Compact.
Federal source: U.S. Department of the Interior — 2027–2028 Colorado River Operations
Arizona source: Arizona Department of Water Resources — Lower Basin Short-Term Operations Proposal
What Those Numbers Mean at Home
The Colorado River crisis is enormous, but water conservation also happens one property at a time.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average family can waste approximately 9,400 gallons of water every year from household leaks alone.
Nationwide, household leaks waste approximately 900 billion gallons of water annually.
For Arizona homeowners, that makes identifying a hidden plumbing leak more than just a way to prevent property damage — it can also eliminate unnecessary water waste.
Homeowners should watch for running toilets, dripping faucets, unexplained increases in water bills, changes in water pressure and other signs that may indicate a plumbing problem.
Residents experiencing water-quality or mineral buildup problems can also learn about water filtration and water softener options, while homeowners noticing leaking or aging equipment should consider having their water heater inspected.
For homeowners in Surprise and throughout the West Valley who need help identifying a plumbing problem, Straight Flush Plumbing provides residential plumbing services throughout the area.