If you've heard that Arizona is losing Colorado River water, it's true. Here's what was actually decided, what the East Valley cities say it means for your tap, and the part that's in your hands at home.
What was decided
On August 21, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Interior finalized new rules for running Lake Powell and Lake Mead in 2027 and 2028. They cut deliveries to the three Lower Basin states (Arizona, California and Nevada) by 1.25 million acre-feet in each of those two years. If the states follow through on their own proposed sharing deal, Arizona's share of the cut is 760,000 acre-feet a year. (One acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons.)
Interior's reason: a drought it calls unprecedented, now 26 years long, plus the lowest snowpack on record in the winter of 2025-2026. Lake Powell and Lake Mead together hold less water than at any time since Lake Powell began filling in the 1960s.
It isn't settled yet. On October 16, 2026, Arizona joined a lawsuit Nevada brought against the Interior Department. The Governor's office warns the federal approach could lead to cuts of up to 3 million acre-feet a year across the Lower Basin. Expect more news on this through 2027.
Will my tap run dry?
The cities that serve the East Valley say no, and they've said so in writing:
- Mesa: asked whether water service will be affected, the city answers "No." Mesa gets about 53% of its water from the Colorado River, 40% from the Salt and Verde Rivers and 7% from groundwater. It's in Stage One (Water Watch), with no mandatory restrictions.
- Chandler: expects its Colorado River supply to drop about 16% in 2027 and 2028, and says that won't affect its ability to meet customer demand. The cut mostly hits water Chandler would otherwise store underground.
- Gilbert: its Colorado River supply drops starting January 1, 2027. The town says it has spent more than 40 years preparing, with more groundwater reserves and stronger infrastructure.
- Scottsdale: no mandatory water-use restrictions on homes or businesses. The city points out that a shortage on the river doesn't automatically mean a shortage at the tap.
Part of the reason: the East Valley doesn't rely on one source. Salt and Verde River water comes through SRP's lakes, cities pump groundwater, and several have banked water underground for years. More on that in where East Valley tap water comes from.
What could change is how hard the cities push conservation, and the details can shift as the lawsuit and the 2027 operating plan play out. Your city's water page is the place to watch.
The part you control: leaks
You can't change the Colorado River. You can stop paying for water that never gets used. The EPA says the average family wastes about 180 gallons a week, or 9,400 gallons a year, from household leaks. The usual suspects:
- A running toilet. A worn flapper can leak silently from the tank into the bowl. A toilet that rocks or leaks at the floor is a separate problem; see toilet leaking at the base.
- Dripping faucets and shower valves. A slow drip adds up over a year. See leaking tub or shower faucet.
- Outdoor spigots and irrigation. Scottsdale notes that most home water use is outdoors, so an irrigation leak can cost more than anything inside. See outdoor spigot leaking.
- Hidden leaks under the slab or in a wall. A water bill that jumps for no reason, a warm spot on the floor, or the meter moving with everything off. See leak detection.
Quick meter check: turn off every faucet and appliance, then look at your water meter. If it's still moving, water is going somewhere.
Old toilets: the EPA says replacing old, inefficient toilets with WaterSense models saves the average family about 13,000 gallons and $130 a year. If you're replacing one anyway, see toilet installation.
What we do
OX Plumbing finds and fixes leaks across Mesa and the East Valley and answers 24/7. Our $99 service call covers the visit, the diagnosis and an upfront price. Want to see what's in your own water system first? Get a free water report for your address.
Sources
- U.S. Department of the Interior: Interior finalizes plans for 2027-2028 Colorado River operations (Aug 21, 2026)
- Office of the Arizona Governor: Arizona and ADWR join Nevada in Colorado River lawsuit (Oct 16, 2026)
- City of Mesa: Mesa's water reliability and preparedness
- City of Chandler: Colorado River shortage and Chandler
- Town of Gilbert: Colorado River water shortage
- City of Scottsdale: Colorado River update
- EPA WaterSense: Statistics and facts (household leaks, toilets)