What is the purpose of the Central Arizona Project (CAP)?

The purpose of the Central Arizona Project (CAP) is to supply water from the Colorado River to central and southern Arizona. This extensive infrastructure project was designed to transport water over a distance of approximately 336 miles through a system of aqueducts, tunnels, and pumping stations. The CAP was established primarily to provide a reliable and sustainable water source for agricultural, urban, and industrial use in areas that would otherwise face challenges in accessing sufficient water, particularly given Arizona's arid climate.

The other options do not accurately reflect the main functions of the CAP. Desalination of seawater, regulating groundwater usage, or monitoring effluent supplies are separate issues related to water management and supply in Arizona, but they do not define the primary role of the CAP, which is focused specifically on augmenting water supplies through the delivery of Colorado River water to its designated service areas.