Arizona town sinking as farms pump groundwater, locals drill deeper wells

Water Scarcity and Groundwater Depletion - The Colorado River, a vital water source for 40 million people, is facing a crisis due to climate disasters and dropping water levels [1] - Wendon, Arizona, is sinking at a rate of 2.2% per year due to groundwater depletion, with the town having already sunk over 3.5 feet in the last 15 years [2] - Arizona State University study indicates that nearly 80% of Arizona has no groundwater regulations [4] - A recent ASU study using NASA satellites found that Arizona has lost nearly 9 trillion gallons of groundwater in the last 20 years [6] Agricultural Impact and Corporate Practices - Agriculture is identified as the biggest impact on groundwater depletion, with massive farms pumping thousands of gallons per minute for crops like alfalfa [3][4] - Corporate farms in Arizona are not required to report their water usage, even when wells run dry, leading to a lack of oversight [4] - Fondante Farms, a Saudi dairy company subsidiary, is drilling 1,500-2,000 feet into the ground to extract groundwater for alfalfa export [7] Legal and Economic Implications - Arizona's Attorney General has filed a nuisance lawsuit against Fondante Farms, alleging harm to the community due to groundwater depletion [9] - Fondante Farms' water usage in one year was estimated to be enough to supply 93,000 homes [10] - A hedge fund has invested $100 million in water rights and land, potentially planning to sell water to Phoenix [12] Community Impact - Small businesses, like Rob McDermott's RV park, face challenges due to groundwater depletion, with McDermott spending $120,000 to drill a new 800-foot well after his previous 620-foot well dried out [5]