Secure Water Rights for Small Towns Before More Face Kearny's Crisis

Arizona needs immediate action to secure water rights for small municipalities before more towns face the crisis unfolding in Kearny. The town declared a state of emergency on March 30 and could run out of water by July 15. Nearly 2,000 residents are now restricted to using water only for bathing and cooking, wearing clothes multiple times before washing them. This is unacceptable in 2025. Small towns without independent water sources are at the mercy of allocation systems that prioritize larger users. When Kearny receives well below its normal water allotment, residents face an existential threat. The water restrictions have created a dangerous secondary crisis: unwatered landscaping increases fire hazards throughout the town, and Kearny may lack sufficient water to fight fires if they break out. Other small municipalities across Arizona could face the same fate. I want you to introduce legislation that guarantees minimum water allocations for small towns and creates an emergency water assistance fund for communities facing shortages. These towns need protected water rights that cannot be cut below levels necessary for basic human needs and fire safety. With the federal government proposing a 57% cut to Central Arizona Project supplies and no new Colorado River agreement in place, small communities will be the first to suffer. Kearny is running out of time. Protect Arizona's small towns now before this becomes a statewide pattern.