The town of Kearny could use up its entire water allotment by August if current usage continues, leaving the community about 90 miles from Phoenix in a crisis. The town’s water supply was cut by roughly 85% due to ongoing drought conditions. Kearny normally receives about 600 acre-feet of water, but is now allocated only 77 acre-feet. The town uses an average of 280 acre-feet per year. “We will run out of water legally on August 1 at this point,” said Mayor Curtis Stacey. “There are 2,000 people here that I am responsible for.” The Gila River, which flows from San Carlos Lake, serves as Kearny’s water source. The supply is split among several eastern Arizona communities. Little snowpack in Arizona and New Mexico has left less water to distribute.

Related articles:

• Arizona Republic (Phoenix): Opinion: Is Kearny’s water crisis a warning for the rest of Arizona? 
• Copper Country News: Opinion: Gila County at the center of Arizona’s impending water war