Avondale officials say diversified water portfolio gives time to plan despite deepening Colorado River stress

Public Works Director Kirk Beatty told the Avondale City Council on April 6 that the city's current water portfolio is diversified and stable for now, but the worsening Colorado River conditions and state-level developments pose meaningful risks to future supply and growth.

Beatty said Avondale's renewable portfolio currently consists of about 44% Salt River Project (SRP) water, 18% Colorado River water delivered through the Central Arizona Project (CAP), and roughly 33% effluent. "We used approximately 52% of our portfolio in 2025, or about 15,909 acre-feet," he said, citing Avondale's recent annual water report submitted to the Arizona Department of Water Resources.

That mix, he said, plus a groundwater allocation of 46,880 acre-feet and roughly 143,200 acre-feet in long-term storage credits (about nine years of demand at current use), gives Avondale a buffer as the region copes with drought. "We have nine years to meet, we would be able to meet nine years of demand based upon our current use," Beatty said.

Nut graf: The city's portfolio provides short-term resiliency, but pending federal and state actions could reduce CAP deliveries or limit how municipalities store CAP…