In what could be a glimpse of the future as climate change batters the West, officials ruled there’s not enough groundwater for projects already approved.

Arizona's water agency will stop approving new development that relies solely on groundwater after a new model shows a projected shortfall.

The state of Arizona on Thursday restricted future home-building in the Phoenix area due to a lack of water, based on projections showing that wells will run dry under existing conditions. The measure announced by the Arizona Department of Water Resources stands to slow population growth for the Phoenix Active Management Area,

Arizona state officials announced Thursday that a new study showed that the groundwater supporting the Phoenix area likely can’t meet additional development demand in the coming century.

Developers that are seeking to build new developments will have to demonstrate they can provide an assured water supply for 100 years using water from a source that is not local groundwater.

The decision to stop developers from building some new subdivisions is a sign of looming trouble in the West where overuse, drought and climate change are straining water supplies.