Kearny Well Delivers 40 Gallons a Minute as Arizona Town Risks 2027 Water Shortfall
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 27
Kearny Well Delivers 40 Gallons a Minute as Arizona Town Risks 2027 Water Shortfall
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 27
Summary
Kearny’s rehabilitated well began operating in mid-July but produced just 40 gallons a minute, far below the 50 gallons officials wanted and only a fraction of the town’s needs.
77 acre-feet of water were allocated to the town this year versus its usual 280 after a dry winter left San Carlos Lake near empty and Kearny’s junior water rights pushed it to the back of the line.
Level 5 restrictions imposed in late March cut use by 30%, and a later reprieve depends on higher-priority communities not calling for more water, leaving the town vulnerable to renewed cutbacks.
San Carlos Lake remains so depleted that it closed in June after about 100% of its fish died, while officials worry the town’s 2027 river allocation could fall to zero.
Kearny is pursuing more distant well sites, possible mining-company water and wastewater reuse, underscoring a broader Western water squeeze as governments prepare for deeper shortages.