Happy Monday! J.R.R. Tolkien published "The Hobbit" on this day in 1937, teaching us all the dangers of trying on strange jewelry.

🌤️ Today's weather: Partly sunny, high of 101.

This newsletter is 941 words — a 4-minute read.

Phoenix has spent decades preparing for the type of Colorado River cutbacks it will face starting next year, but making up for them will still require lots of sacrifice and investment.

Why it matters: The city doesn't yet know exactly how much water it will lose from the dwindling river, and Phoenix is pursuing several avenues to make up the difference from other sources.

Catch up quick: In August, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation cemented its two-year plan for the river, with Arizona taking the largest cut — 760,000 acre-feet, enough to serve more than 1.5 million single-family homes.

• The Central Arizona Project (CAP), which provides Colorado River water to Phoenix and other Valley cities, will see a 50% cut in its allocation.

Zoom in: Phoenix may not know how much CAP water it will lose until early October.

• The Colorado River accounts for 40% of the city's water, while 58% comes from the Salt and Verde rivers.
• Phoenix has about 700,000 acre-feet of water stored underground, which can make up for immediate shortages.

State of play: Next year, the city will open a water purification plant to recycle 7 million gallons of drinking water daily. Two more are slated to come online by 2033.

• Phoenix is also part of an effort to expand Bartlett Dam to capture Verde river water that is otherwise lost during heavy rains and flooding.

Yes, but: That project, which is currently undergoing environmental review, wouldn't be completed until the mid-2030s.

• It'll also cost around $3 billion. There's no federal funding currently attached.

Friction point: Conservation is also a part of the equation — the city is expected to enter Stage 2 of its Drought Management Plan when the river cuts take effect next year.

• That may include drought surcharges on water bills, the amount of which has yet to be determined.

The bottom line: Phoenix can't conserve its way out of the approaching crisis, putting more importance on its (costly) efforts to find new supplies.

Share this story

Phoenix residents looking to cut back on their water usage — and bills — can benefit from several city programs built to encourage water efficiency.

Grass removal program

The city's biggest and most popular incentive city will pay $2 for each square foot of grass removed in favor of "low water-use landscape."

• Caveat: A minimum of 250 square feet of grass must be removed to qualify for the program and grass cannot be reinstalled by the same homeowner.

By the numbers: Since the grass removal program started in 2024, the city has approved 1,053 applications and reimbursed $2 million, replacing about 1.26 million square feet of grass.

Free consultations

Homeowners can also schedule free in-home water conservation consultations with city personnel.

• The city also will provide a free AZ Water-Wise Kit, which includes a water-efficient shower head, a bathroom faucet aerator, an automatic hose timer and a drip irrigation repair kit, among other items.

Low-flow toilets and smart irrigation controllers

The city will pay residents $75 each for installing low-flow toilets and smart irrigation controllers.

• Yes, but: Phoenix has received only 145 toilet applications since the program started in 2023, approving just 57 and reimbursing $5,100.

Find ways to save

🏈 The Cardinals fell 31-7 to the Seahawks in their home opener, notching their first loss of the season. (Arizona Sports)

🔌 A proposal by the city of Phoenix could add up to 1,900 new electric vehicle charging ports across the Valley. (KJZZ)

⚖️ In a ruling against UofA, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled unanimously that government agencies can't avoid disclosing public records by destroying them. (Arizona Mirror)

🌮 Vecina, an Arcadia Latin restaurant and 2020 James Beard Award semifinalist for best new restaurant in 2020, opened a second location at McCormick Ranch. (Phoenix New Times)

Scottsdale is proposing to put treated and purified wastewater into CAP, which funnels Colorado River water to the Valley, in exchange for a larger share of river water.

Why it matters: Scottsdale is facing cuts to its Colorado River water supply, which accounts for about 70% of the city's water portfolio.

• Yes, but: That means other cities, like Chandler or Gilbert, may receive the recycled wastewater Scottsdale doesn't want to keep.

What they're saying: The city's latest proposal is a "creative solution" that could give Scottsdale another way to manage water shortages, Sarah Porter, director of ASU's Kyle Center for Water Policy, tells Axios.

• Councilmember Solange Whitehead said in a press release last week that the proposal could make Scottsdale residents pay twice: first to purify the city's wastewater and again to treat the raw CAP water received in return.

Go deeper

Our newsroom helps you follow the people, decisions and stories shaping Phoenix — wherever they're happening.

Why it matters: Your membership supports the local reporting that keeps you informed, engaged and connected to the place you call home.

💪 Become an Axios Phoenix member today and help keep trusted local journalism strong.

Thanks for supporting the news that keeps you connected.

Welcome to another edition of "Where in the Valley?"

How it works: We show you something cool. You tell us where it is.

• The first reader who names the spot gets a shoutout in the newsletter.

You tell us: Where in the Valley can you find this David Bowie mural? Hit reply with your answer.

Catch up quick: Congratulations to Laura V., the first reader to give us the correct location for our last "Where in the Valley?" photo.

• The photo is from the Arizona Humane Society Papago Park Campus.

🎣 Jeremy's kids both caught their first fish at Woods Canyon Lake this weekend. He's still never caught one.

📖 Zach is midway through reading "East of Eden" for his book club.

Thanks to our editor Astrid Galván.