Northern Arizona City Declares Water Crisis

Published: Monday, May 12, 2014 - 10:30am

A northern Arizona city that relies primarily on runoff has declared a water crisis. Residents in Williams can be fined for watering lawns or washing their cars with potable water.

Businesses are bringing water from outside town to fill swimming pools. Building permits have been put on hold because there isn't enough water to accommodate development. As cities across the West cope with drought, officials in Williams clamped down on water use early and severely this year.

The restrictions came after the town received less than half of normal precipitation over several months. Reservoirs are low, and the city is pumping its only two wells to capacity. Mayor John Moore says he's hopeful the monsoon season will bring some relief for the community about 60 miles from the Grand Canyon.