Alhambra
Alhambra, AZ water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Alhambra, AZ is a mid-sized city, with a population near 127,764 and the 14th-largest community in Arizona. Like much of Arizona, Alhambra draws its water primarily from Colorado River, groundwater, and Salt & Verde rivers.
Alhambra's water outlook is shaped most by colorado river — the issue that dominates planning across Arizona. A national leader in reuse — Scottsdale has demonstrated direct potable reuse — even as Colorado River cuts and groundwater limits constrain growth around Phoenix.
Alhambra sits in a state that reuses roughly 52% of treated wastewater (established programs) and currently experiences moderate to severe drought.
For the bigger picture, see the Arizona state water profile and the related issues below.
At a glance
- Population ~127,764 (14th-largest in Arizona)
- Primary sources: Colorado River, groundwater, and Salt & Verde rivers
- Drought: moderate to severe conditions
- State reuse rate: ~52% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Arizona in severe+ drought (Severe (D2) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Alhambra?
Alhambra is served by community water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Statewide, 43.4% of Arizona's systems have a recent health-based violation. Check your provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report for local results.
Where does Alhambra get its water?
Alhambra draws from the same regional sources that serve Arizona: Colorado River, groundwater, Salt & Verde rivers.
Related water issues
Colorado River
The river that supplies 40 million people has lost roughly a fifth of its flow since 2000, forcing a renegotiation of how seven states share the water.
ExploreGroundwater Depletion
Aquifers from the Central Valley to the Ogallala are being pumped faster than they recharge, causing land subsidence and threatening long-term supply.
ExplorePotable Reuse
Advanced purification turns treated wastewater into water that meets or exceeds drinking-water standards — increasingly essential in water-stressed regions.
ExploreDrought
Much of the American West is in a multi-decade dry period that researchers describe as the most severe in over a millennium, reshaping how communities plan for water.
Explore