Election-season politics have stalled efforts to expand wastewater recycling to residents' taps in an affluent Phoenix suburb. Scottsdale is among the Arizona cities that are facing cuts to their water supply from the Colorado River. A longstanding program that has helped recharge aquifers with purified wastewater was set to expand in 2027. But criticism tied to unproven claims that the water is “poop water” has halted the program. Candidates vying for seats on the city council in November claim it's too costly and unsafe. The city says the candidates’ allegations ignore science and the purified water exceeds federal standards for drinking.