In a tranquil state park in Central Texas, workers are busily piecing together massive yellow pipes that spell salvation for this city. The pipes run along a park road, slither between trees, cross a street to avoid an ancient cemetery, hug a state-owned easement and then land at a treatment plant. Without it, what everyone fears most would come true: The water will stop running.

Deep spring snowpack in parts of the West has given states in the Colorado River basin some relief from drought, but water officials said Thursday there's still work to do to keep faucets running in the future. Before this year, there was a "serious possibility" that a water shortage would be declared next year for California, Arizona and Nevada, U.S.

For the 30 million Americans who depend on the Colorado River for their water, this past winter's soaking rains and snows will only leave them thirsting for more. Water managers warn that Lake Mead, the West's largest and most important reservoir, remains perilously near the level of 1,075 feet at which the U.S.

Colorado needs to pursue several paths in order to avoid a water crisis in future years that could threaten the state’s agricultural base, the governor’s top water adviser said. “My father-in-law taught me to farm as if you’ve just had your last rain,” John Stulp told The Pueblo Chieftain editorial board Thursday.

The glum projections of the growing gap between demand for water in the Southwest and the dwindling supplies have never been optimistic, but two new studies— one a research report based on satellite data, and the other an analysis of rainfall, water use and the costs associated with obtaining new water — make earlier forecasts seem positively rosy.

Increasingly erratic rainfall patterns related to climate change pose a major threat to food security and economic growth, water experts said on Monday, arguing for greater investment in water storage.