Tapped
Solari Crisis & Human Services

Tapped

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A podcast where we tell our stories - the stories of people living with the cost of drought in the Southwest, and what we can do to mitigate it.
SEASON:1 | 2

Season 2

Navigating murky waters: how laws and regulations can hinder tribal initiatives
November 3, 2023

Navigating murky waters: how laws and regulations can hinder tribal initiatives

In this tapped episode, Katya Mendoza and Paola Rodriguez explore the intersection of preserving tribal heritage, defending precious resources and reforming mining laws.
A generational battle: How a tribe’s concern over uranium mining on ancestral homelands brought Biden to AZ
October 27, 2023

A generational battle: How a tribe’s concern over uranium mining on ancestral homelands brought Biden to AZ

In this tapped episode, Katya Mendoza and Paola Rodriguez explore the history of the Havasupai people's fight to stop uranium mining near the Grand Canyon.
An unprecedented water line in an unprecedented place
October 19, 2023

An unprecedented water line in an unprecedented place

In this Tapped episode, Danyelle Khmara delves into the Grand Canyon's water infrastructure challenges and the extraordinary Transcanyon Waterline upgrade, highlighting the complexities of delivering clean water in this iconic natural wonder.
When a reservoir is more than just stored water
October 11, 2023

When a reservoir is more than just stored water

Reservoirs are a common solution to the seasonal ebbs and flows of river water. But, for some communities, they are so much more.
Water and housing redux
October 10, 2023

Water and housing redux

The story of a home development in Cochise County has taken a second big turn since we published Episode 4 of this series, so Summer Hom is back with the latest on this ongoing saga.
Water and Copper: How mining's history follows Arizona's feelings about water use in the state
September 27, 2023

Water and Copper: How mining's history follows Arizona's feelings about water use in the state

Mining was Arizona's first billion-dollar industry. As we consider our state's economic drivers and their water use, we ask not only how much water goes into mining but what its aftermath does to water.
Housing and Water: How government, environmentalists and developers shape Arizona homes
September 20, 2023

Housing and Water: How government, environmentalists and developers shape Arizona homes

The state's mild winters are often a plus for people who move here. So how does that growing population interact with a shrinking water supply?
Why is alfalfa one of Arizona's biggest crops?
September 6, 2023

Why is alfalfa one of Arizona's biggest crops?

Three of the 5 Cs that traditionally made up Arizona's economy have to do with agriculture. So how is that industry doing as water gets scarce?
How water gets to (most of) us
August 30, 2023

How water gets to (most of) us

Most of us get our water from a utility company, be it a large municipal one or a small private entity. This week, we look at the work that one small company does to keep the water flowing, and what happened when another utility had a big problem.
When dams break
August 23, 2023

When dams break

As our infrastructure ages, what can happen when structures that are often massive give way?

Season 1

We should go where the water is
August 29, 2022

We should go where the water is

Arizona’s economy runs on growth. But as the state is forced to make cuts in its water usage, it will have to reconsider what the housing developments built to accommodate that growth look like and even how many more people it can realistically handle.
The water diplomats
August 22, 2022

The water diplomats

Many communities along the U.S.-Mexico border share aquifers, and that works better for some states and cities than others. In this collaboration with the Texas Water Resources Institute, we compare how those relationships work in Texas and Arizona.
Strong sense of place
August 8, 2022

Strong sense of place

Tucson made big changes that had big impacts on its water consumption.
The water came back
August 1, 2022

The water came back

Poor water practices made the Santa Cruz River practically disappear, but new efforts have some water flowing again. And when there’s water in the desert, life follows quickly.
“Not here for some agrarian fantasy”
July 25, 2022

“Not here for some agrarian fantasy”

Arizona plays a big role in providing Americans with fresh greens year-round, and its farmers are feeling the pressure to keep that going while cutting down on water. It’s also not an easy place to start farming from scratch.
Wa:k–where the water goes in
July 18, 2022

Wa:k–where the water goes in

The Tohono O’odham Nation and its predecessors, the Huhugam, have used canals to move water around Southern Arizona for millenia. Today, the Tohono O’odham Nation is looking into those older practices around water and bringing some back into the fold.
When you touch it, it gets worse
July 18, 2022

When you touch it, it gets worse

The City of Bisbee's antiquated water systems are slowing down the fire department in the face of longer and more dangerous wildfire seasons. Town leaders are looking to solve the problem while improving their water infrastructure on the whole.

Show Details

WHEN TO LISTEN: New episodes appear Wednesday morningsWHERE CAN I LISTEN: Tapped is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and the NPR app. Subscribe today and don't miss an episode!
Zac Ziegler

About the Show

This is Tapped, a podcast where we tell our stories - the stories of people living with the cost of drought in the Southwest, and what we can do to mitigate it.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona