Arizona Water Crisis Intensifies as Foreign Firms Exploit Unregulated Groundwater

Emirati agribusiness Al Dahra's farming activities in McMullen Valley spark local concerns, highlighting the need for groundwater pumping regulations.

Arizona's McMullen Valley is facing a water crisis as drought depletes aquifers, causing concerns about future water supplies.
Emirati agribusiness Al Dahra has been farming alfalfa on about 3,000 acres in the valley for several years, leading to complaints from locals about dried up backyard wells.
It is estimated that Al Dahra needs 15,000 to 16,000 acre feet of water a year, and there are fears that state officials could take control of the groundwater used for agriculture and transfer it to urban areas.
Experts warn that tensions are inevitable as companies in climate-challenged countries increasingly look to places like Arizona for water and land to grow crops for domestic use and export.
Calls are growing for the introduction of groundwater pumping regulations and more control over groundwater uses in unregulated areas.