Water cuts threaten Phoenix economy
“Long term, the Southwestern cities that invest in water resources instead of simply fighting over a shrinking supply will be the winners. Advanced purification technology can turn water we use today into a reliable resource for tomorrow. If the technology is good enough for NASA and the International Space Station, it's certainly feasible for Phoenix.”
— Ashley Harder
The following is an opinion piece written by Ashley Harder, a Phoenix business owner, community leader and historic-preservation advocate. She is a candidate for Phoenix City Council District 4. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Phoenix has a strong economy. It’s at risk of drying up with long-term water cuts and an uncertain future.
Phoenix needs municipal leaders who understand that conservation alone is not enough. We cannot save our way to a water surplus. We must invest in new supplies, new technology and infrastructure that allow us to reuse the water we already have.
Our city has been fortunate to have the leadership of former Mayor Greg Stanton and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego to steward us through these challenging times. In the years ahead, we need a City Council that recognizes we can’t simply focus on conservation.
Long-term, the Southwestern cities that invest in water resources instead of simply fighting over a shrinking supply will be the winners. Advanced purification technology can turn water we use today into a reliable resource for tomorrow. If the technology is good enough for NASA and the International Space Station, it’s certainly feasible for Phoenix.
Phoenix should become a national hub for water innovation by partnering with local universities, private-sector leaders and water-technology companies. That means attracting new businesses and jobs while solving one of Arizona’s greatest long-term challenges.
I have spent my career working at the intersection of development, infrastructure and community engagement. As founder of Harder Development and vice chair of Phoenix Community Alliance’s Planning and Development Committee, I helped advance housing and infrastructure projects throughout central Phoenix. I have worked on adaptive reuse, infill, affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization, including 335 Commons, the Henry M. Campbell House, Carline Center and CLIO on McDowell. I also helped engage the community on Phoenix’s recent water-impact fees.
That experience shaped my belief that responsible growth means making the most of the infrastructure and water resources we already have.
But government can’t do this alone. Business leaders and powerful stakeholders must recognize that Phoenix’s water security is in their interest, too. Everyone has a right to protect their interests, and litigation is sometimes inevitable. But I have been dismayed by court cases where major real-estate developers, mining companies and private utilities have gone to the mattresses to challenge groundwater protections and municipal water policies.
When powerful interests use the courts to weaken protections or restrict the tools available to cities and the state, elected leaders must stand up for residents and the public interest.
Phoenix’s future depends on investing in technology, modernizing infrastructure, planning responsibly and protecting residents when special interests threaten our water security.
District 4 deserves a councilmember with the experience to bring interests together without losing sight of the public good. Water is not a side issue. It is an economic issue, a housing issue and a quality-of-life issue.
Every candidate seeking to represent District 4 should explain how they will protect Phoenix’s water future, because protecting our water means protecting our neighborhoods, our economy and the opportunities we leave to the next generation.
Original article can be found here: https://www.yourvalley.net/detail.html?sub_id=c3c2cab840
