The Daily

Arizona’s Pipe Dream

Sep 1, 2023

Christopher Flavelle, a climate adaptation reporter for The New York Times, teams up with Chuck Podolak, head of Arizona's Water Infrastructure Finance Authority, to explore Arizona's growing water crisis. They discuss the alarming rates at which groundwater is depleted, posing a threat to both drinking water and agricultural sustainability. Delving into controversial solutions like desalination and the financial and environmental hurdles of a major pipeline project, they highlight the urgent need for innovative and sustainable approaches to secure Arizona's water future.

39:03

Creator website

Episode guests

Chuck Podolak

Christopher Flavelle

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Quick takeaways

Groundwater depletion is a critical issue in the United States, with aquifers shrinking nationwide and threatening drinking water supplies and food production.

Arizona is considering the ambitious idea of building a desalination plant in Mexico and constructing a 200-mile pipeline to transport desalinated water, although concerns about cost and environmental impact remain.

Deep dives

Groundwater Crisis in the United States

A comprehensive investigation by The New York Times reveals that groundwater depletion has become a critical issue in many parts of the United States. The report highlights the alarming rates at which Americans are pumping out groundwater, an essential water source for drinking, farming, and various other needs. The investigation shows that groundwater is being depleted faster than it can be replenished, putting many regions at risk of running out of water. This problem extends beyond the drought-prone West and affects states like Maryland, Kansas, Arkansas, New York, and Minnesota. Among the states, Arizona stands out as one of the most seriously affected, prompting restrictions on new construction due to dwindling water supplies.

The Groundwater Crisis in the United States and Arizona's Response

03:48

Environmental Concerns and Water Conservation in Puerto Pernasco

04:18

How States Legally Classify Butterflies

01:03

Intro

3min

Navigating Arizona's Water Crisis

17min

Water Woes in the Desert

7min

Water Costs in Arizona: A Growing Concern

4min

Navigating Arizona's Water Futures

7min

Navigating Arizona's Water Crisis and Global Tragedies

4min

A Times investigation revealed that in much of the United States, communities and farms are pumping out groundwater at alarming rates. Aquifers are shrinking nationwide, threatening supplies of drinking water and the country’s status as a food superpower.

Christopher Flavelle, who covers climate adaptation for The Times, went to Arizona, the state at the forefront of the crisis, and looked at one especially controversial idea to address it: desalination.

Guest: Christopher Flavelle covers climate adaptation for The New York Times.

Background reading:

America is using up its groundwater like there’s no tomorrow.
Five takeaways from the investigation into the groundwater crisis.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

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The Daily

Arizona’s Pipe Dream

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Groundwater Crisis in the United States

Arizona's Water Crisis and Limiting Growth

Proposed Solution: Desalination Pipeline from Mexico

The Complexity and Uncertainty of the Project

The Groundwater Crisis in the United States and Arizona's Response

Environmental Concerns and Water Conservation in Puerto Pernasco

How States Legally Classify Butterflies

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts