Recharge is inadequate.

Aquifer recharge sounds like a wonderful method to reduce the stress on our groundwater supply. ADWR strongly encourages it. Prescott and Prescott Valley are very proud of their recharge efforts. But there is much more to this story because:

    • Most artificial recharge does not help the aquifer. ADWR allows municipalities to pump additional groundwater in support of development equivalent to the quantity recharged. Only the relatively small amount recharge designated as “permanent” helps the aquifer.
    • Even if all the artificial recharge were to be committed as permanent, the amount of artificial recharge is insufficient to offset the quantity of groundwater pumped.
    • Between 20% and 70% of the groundwater pumped is lost to evaporation and cannot be captured for recharge.

  • Artificial Recharge Locations

    Artificial Recharge Locations

    On the map, artificial recharge locations are green rectangles.

    Map recharge

Updated October 14, 2020