Arizona Groundwater

A deep dive into our hidden resource.

In this thought-provoking video series, we unearth the secrets of how and where groundwater accumulates and the processes for bringing it to the surface.

 

 

Groundwater has been the most essential resource in Arizona to grow our food, manufacture products and to use right in our homes every day. Watch Episode 1 for an introduction to Arizona’s unique hydrological cycle.

Watch Episode 2 for a deeper dive into groundwater.


Knowing that there is a vast resource of available fresh water below the surface of Arizona’s landscape is one thing, but getting to it and knowing how much of it we can use? That is an entirely different matter. Watch Episode 2 for a deeper dive into groundwater.

Watch Episode 3 for an inside look at the groundwater system.


Groundwater is a part of the global water cycle. That means it’s connected to everything from our weather to our climate to our surface water and to our soil system. Watch Episode 3 for an inside look at the groundwater system.

Watch Episode 4 to learn how groundwater moves.


From evaporation to infiltration, the journey for Arizona’s groundwater is an interesting one. Watch Episode 4 to learn how groundwater moves.

Watch Episode 5 to find out how we use our interconnected water resources.


Even underground, groundwater is still very much connected to our surface water systems and plays a vital role in our everyday life. Watch Episode 5 to find out how we use our interconnected water resources.

Watch Episode 6 for a look back at how Arizona has managed its water supply.


To understand how we began to manage our water supply in one of the driest states in the United States, we need to go back to where it all began. Watch Episode 6 for a look back at how Arizona has managed its water supply.

Watch Episode 7 to see what happens when we pump too much groundwater.


Despite Arizona’s success drawing groundwater out of our aquifers and recharging them to keep them usable, in many parts of the state we still pump more out of the ground than we put back. Watch Episode 7 to see what happens when we pump too much groundwater.

Watch Episode 8 to learn about balancing the groundwater system.


We have engineered and built the most innovative systems and engaged in proven, community-oriented management practices in the journey to manage our groundwater and achieve balance. Watch Episode 8 to learn about balancing the groundwater system.

Watch Episode 9 to see what you can do to be a better water user.


As members of the Arizona community, we need to be smart, value our aquifers and make choices that save water. Watch Episode 9 to see what you can do to be a better water user.

Visit our main page to learn more about how to use water wisely:
https://projectwet.arizona.edu


 

These videos were made possible by funds from Arizona Department of Water Resources

 

 

 

 

 

 

Groundwater Stakeholder Advisory Council

 

Special thanks to those on our Advisory Council, who were essential in the creation and review of these videos.

 

 

Dr. Laura Condon, Asst. Professor, UA Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences

Haley Paul, Policy Director, Audubon Southwest, National Audubon Society

Stefanie Smallhouse, President, Arizona Farm Bureau Federation

Warren Tenney, Executive Director, Arizona Municipal Water Users Association

Sandy Fabritz, Director of Water Strategy, Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

 

 

 

Development Team

Esser Design

Pam Esser, Marketing Director

Kevin Sirios, Design Director

Brian Tooker, Post-Production

Jeff Noble, Photography, Videography

 

Arizona Project WET

Kerry Schwartz, Former Director, Arizona Project WET

Holly Thomas-Hilburn, Director, Arizona Project WET

Pamela Justice, Maricopa County Senior Program Coordinator, Arizona Project WET

Clayton Bruce Lyon, Digital Media Advisor, Arizona Project WET

Quinn Hull, Graduate Research Assistant, UA Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences

With support from Arizona Cooperative Extension and the Water Resources Research Center

 

 

 

Credits

We also want to thank and give credit to those who provided us with additional media and filming locations

Arizona Department of Water Resources

Arizona Geological Survey

Arizona Memory Project

Arizona Municipal Water Users Authority

Rousseau Farming Co.

Salt River Project

Tohono Chul Gardens

Tucson Water

Marana Water Department

Watershed Management Group

 


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