The big story in Phoenix water over the last 48 hours is a mix of record-setting heat, stubborn drought, faint signs of monsoon relief, and major moves to secure the city’s drinking water for the long term.
Phoenix hasn’t seen a single drop of measurable rain so far in August, which is unusual even by desert standards. According to weatherandclimate.info, the total precipitation this month remains at zero, or 0% of normal, with the entire year tracking hotter than average. Temperatures have topped out at 116 degrees Fahrenheit, pushing residents and the water system to their limits.
While clouds and a few sprinkles teased the Valley on August 7, meteorologist Michael Grath noted in his Phoenix Weather Discussion that these hints of the monsoon are still not delivering real rain. As of this morning, Phoenix’s rain gauges remain empty, and weather models predicting 0.4 inches over the next 10 days are seen as optimistic based on repeated misses earlier in the summer.
With reservoirs dropping and the Colorado River under pressure, Phoenix’s long-term response is making headlines. The US Water Alliance recently awarded Mayor Kate Gallego the 2025 US Water Prize for her leadership in water sustainability. Her key initiatives include overseeing the $300 million Drought Pipeline Project, which has shifted Phoenix’s reliance from the Colorado River to local river sources, and securing nearly $180 million in federal funding for a new advanced water purification facility. This plant will recycle and purify water to create a new "drought-proof" source for Phoenix taps, and is part of the city's strategy to guarantee safe, reliable drinking water for more than 1.7 million customers.
Phoenix Water Services is supporting these efforts on the neighborhood level too. Under programs like the 2025 Love Your Block Grant, residents are being encouraged to install water-saving gardens, leak watch groups, and rain harvesting systems—grassroots steps to help stretch every drop. Water quality in the city continues to meet all state and federal standards, and the new purification facility is expected to further enhance both quality and supply for years to come.
Meanwhile, state action is underway on even broader scales. Just last month, the Arizona government approved a first-ever order to transport groundwater from the Harquahala Basin, tapping a source with more than 8 million acre-feet for Maricopa County. This new supply is expected to strengthen the region’s "Assured Water Supply" portfolio and buffer against continued drought.
In summary: despite a stubborn dry stretch and soaring heat, Phoenix is doubling down on water innovation, government investment, and community action to secure and improve its drinking water. Stay tuned for any actual rain, and in the meantime, keep cool, conserve, and remain hopeful for the late monsoon.
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