The ongoing drought appears to be a serious concern among Arizona voters. A new poll by Morning Consult, sponsored by the Walton Family Foundation, shows a large majority of Arizonans want to see lawmakers take action to address the state’s water issues.
91% percent of those polled said they think water should be a priority for lawmakers this legislative session. There was stronger support for water conservation among Democrats than Republicans, but a majority of voters across all political parties said they thought water was very important. 91% of Democrats, 81% of Republicans and 77% of independents said they agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, "I believe that substantial investments in water conservation right now are key to Arizona’s economic well-being for the next five years.”
The poll asked about a variety of potential areas for water-related investments in Arizona. Conservation projects to protect reserves in Lake Powell and Lake Mead had the largest share of support among Arizonans polled, with 35% saying that should be a priority. 33% of respondents would prioritize local water reuse and recycling projects. The smallest share of voters polled, 19%, said they would prioritize large infrastructure projects like building a desalination plant.
