How does Phoenix get its water?

Phoenix’s multiple-sourced water supply is as unique as its status as a desert. There are three main sources: surface water, groundwater, and reclaimed water. Surface water includes lakes, rivers, and the Central Arizona Project, which allows water from the Colorado River to flow more than 600 miles to Phoenix.

Central Arizona’s water supply from comes from melted snow and runoff from mountains in Northern Arizona.  Yet when those forests are unhealthy and prone to wildfires, sediment from wildfires can make its way into reservoirs holding clean water for residents, possibly affecting water quality.