ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

HB 2095: assured water supply; well depth

Sponsor: Representative Griffin

Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Overview

Increases factors to be determined by the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) Director in determining depth to water as it relates to determining assured water supply.

History

A certificate of assured water supply acknowledges that there is sufficient groundwater, surface water or effluent of adequate quality that will continue to be available for at least 100 years; the water will be physically available; the applicant has legal rights to the water; the water provider or developer has the financial capability to construct the water delivery system; and the water's use is consistent with the Active Management Area's (AMA) management plan. An applicant for a certificate of assured water supply is required to provide a copy of a hydrological study if groundwater resources are intended to be used as a part of the supply. The hydrological study must demonstrate an assured supply of groundwater exists for the proposed use by the applicant (A.R.S. § 45-577)(ADWR).

Currently, the ADWR Director, in determining depth to water for the purposes of making a determination of an assured water supply, must consider the combination of the:

1) existing rate of decline;

2) proposed withdrawals; and

3) expected water requirements of all recorded lots that are not yet served water and that are located in the service area of a municipal provider (A.R.S. § 45-576).

Provisions

1. Expands the factors the ADWR Director must consider when determining depth to water to include the volume of unreplenished groundwater that an applicant proposes to use. (Sec. 1)

2. Requires ADWR to find the aforementioned volume of unreplenished groundwater is physically available if ADWR's groundwater model for the AMA, upon expiration of 100 years of pumping, shows the annual volume of unreplenished groundwater at the exact point of withdrawal is equal to or less than the lesser of:

a. the depth to bedrock below the point of withdrawal;

b. 1,100 ft below land surface, in the Pinal AMA; or

c. 1,000 ft below land surface, in the Phoenix AMA. (Sec. 1)

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g. Initials CW HB 2095

h. 2/5/2025 Page 0 Natural Resources, Energy & Water

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