By Rachel Leingang |Arizona Capitol Times
Water experts expect Colorado River shortages to kick in within the next two years, which could lead to price increases for customers and big impacts on agriculture.
A panel of public and private water officials spoke Tuesday morning at an Arizona Capitol Times Morning Scoop event, telling attendees that water shortages are now a matter of when, not if.
“What’s going to raise rates for everyone in the near term is when the (Colorado) river falls into shortage,” said David Modeer, general manager of the Central Arizona Project.
There’s a 61 percent probability that the Colorado will fall into shortage by 2017, according to a CAP presentation to the House Agriculture committee last month.
