Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is suing a Saudi-owned agribusiness for excessive groundwater pumping, arguing it endangers local communities’ health and infrastructure.
Gabriel Sandoval and Anita Snow report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- The lawsuit alleges Fondomonte Arizona, a subsidiary of Saudi company Almarai, has over-pumped groundwater in La Paz County since 2014.
- Unregulated pumping has caused wells to dry up, ground to crack and aquifers to deplete, impacting rural residents.
- AG Mayes criticized the Arizona Legislature for failing to regulate groundwater use, leaving legal action as the only recourse.
Key quote:
“Arizona law is clear: no company has the right to endanger an entire community’s health and safety for its own gain.”
— Kris Mayes, Arizona Attorney General
Why this matters:
Groundwater depletion threatens Arizona's rural water security amid ongoing drought. Lack of regulation allows foreign companies to exploit limited resources, leaving local communities vulnerable to water shortages and infrastructure damage.
Learn more: Recent court rulings bolster state power to safeguard groundwater
