By Arizona Daily Star
Arizona water officials gave the green light to Marana’s growth for another decade, by affirming the town has enough water to serve that much more development for 100 years.
The Arizona Department of Water Resources’ draft decision in Marana’s favor will, when finalized, allow for more than doubling of the population living inside the town’s water service area by 2034.
The decision came over written objections of well over 50 people and groups who argued, among many other things, the town was betting too much of its future on pumped groundwater.
ADWR found the objections had no legal basis, and that the town proved its groundwater supply will be “physically, legally, and continuously available for 100 years.” Under state law, new subdivisions built in urban areas such as those of Tucson and Phoenix must have a state-designated, assured 100-year water supply.