Lake Mead’s Uncertain Future Leads Arizona to Eye Water Imports [Video]

Arizona is taking steps to secure its water future as the prolonged megadrought gripping the Colorado River continues to deplete its reservoirs, including Lake Mead and Lake Powell.

This week, the state’s Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) advanced plans to import billions of gallons of water from outside its borders, a move necessitated by Lake Mead’s precarious levels and unresolved disputes among the seven states relying on the Colorado River.

At a conference on Tuesday, WIFA officials outlined a phased process inviting companies to propose viable solutions for bringing external water supplies into the state.

Newsweek contacted WIFA via email for further comment.

With Lake Mead currently at 33 percent capacity—1,061 feet above sea level—and Lake Powell similarly depleted, the reality of a diminished Colorado River system has forced Arizona to consider alternative water sources.