phoenix – Throughout the week, we’ve highlighted some of our concerns about the future of Arizona’s water. In the west of the state, there is now growing dissatisfaction with several foreign companies that have unlimited access to the state’s groundwater.

La Paz County is just over two hours away from the Phoenix area. The county is primarily dependent on groundwater, and county residents cannot find enough water.

“In my opinion, water means everything to this county.

Irwin has lived in La Paz County for nearly 30 years, spending about half of that time as one of the county’s supervisors. She said wells in the area have recently begun to dry up and landowners are spending tens of thousands of dollars to dig deeper and deeper wells to access groundwater.

Many states in Arizona have regulations to protect the use of groundwater, but La Paz County is an exception. Irwin believes the region is attractive to large companies like Saudi-based Fondmonte.

“Without regulations, we can pump until the aquifer is dry,” says Irwin.

In 2014, Fondmonte purchased 10,000 acres (approximately 4,046.86 hectares) of farmland in Vicksburg. This included exclusive rights to the water below. The company says it uses land to grow alfalfa, a water-intensive crop, which it turns into hay and sends back to the Middle East to feed its growing dairy business.

Irwin does not believe that this farm, or other foreign-owned farms nearby, are paying for the groundwater they use. She is not alone.

“What’s happening in La Paz County is absolute theft,” said Rep. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat. “They’re stealing this water, and they’re doing it for less than the US companies are doing now.”

Congressman Gallego introduced the Domestic Water Conservation Act. This would impose his 300% excise tax on foreign companies that manufacture, produce or import water-intensive crops in regions of the United States that are in the midst of drought.

“What it does is hopefully some of these companies come to realize that it doesn’t make economic sense to do this,” said Rep. Gallego.

Even if the bill does pass Congress, it may be just a drop in the bucket, as both Gallego and Irwin say it’s up to the state to make the first moves to protect Arizona’s waters. not.

“The time has come to secure and modernize Arizona’s water supply by improving water conservation and management and upgrading infrastructure,” said incoming Governor Katie Hobbs.

Gov.-elect Hobbs says the state’s looming water crisis will be a top priority in her first few days in office. It has committed to auditing and investigating water transactions with Saudi companies that rely on it.

“It’s time to hold companies who want to provide our water to foreign governments like Saudi Arabia accountable because we need water here for our families and businesses..

Read more stories about the Arizona water crisis