How to protect water supplies is a global concern. In Maricopa County, Arizona, a fresh solution is being introduced. The Gila River Indian Community has agreed to work with the U.S. Army of Engineers to build solar panels over irrigation canals.
It is designed to conserve water in the Gila River by minimizing evaporation while producing clean, renewable energy. This is the first project to install solar panels over canal water in the U.S., and construction will be completed by Q4 of 2025. California has explored covering the California aqueduct with solar panels also but has yet to approve such a project.
