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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
city water provider; service; requirements
Purpose
Requires a municipality to provide water service through a standpipe for water hauling to certain persons residing outside the water service area who do not have access to sufficient water.
Background
A municipal water provider is a city, town, domestic water improvement district, private water company or irrigation district that supplies water for non-irrigation use (A.R.S. § 48-5901). A service area with respect to a city or town, is the area of land actually being served water, for non-irrigation use, by the city or town (A.R.S. § 45-402).
The Arizona Corporation Commissions (ACC) regulates Arizona private water companies and private wastewater companies. The ACC has more than 400 individual water systems that are operated by nearly 350 companies under their regulatory jurisdiction (ACC).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires a city or town to provide water service through a standpipe for water hauling to persons residing outside the water service area who do not have access to sufficient water if:
a) the number of households to be serviced is less than 750;
b) the city or town previously provided water service to the persons who do not have access to sufficient water;
c) there is no other source of water for those persons within 10 miles of their households;
d) the city or town is reimbursed for the costs of providing and delivering the water; and
e) providing the water at the standpipe does not reduce the amount of water available to households within the city's or town's water service area or to households outside of the city's or town's water service area with whom the city or town has contracted to provide water.
2. Conditions the repeal of the requirement for a city or town to provide water service through a standpipe for water hauling on the following date if the following occurs:
a) April 1, 2023, if the ACC has not licensed a water provider to service the area that lacks sufficient water;
b) the date on which the eligible persons acquire access to sufficient water supplies; or
c) January 1, 2026, if neither condition is met.
3. Requires the ACC to notify in writing the Director of the Arizona Legislative Council by February 1, 2026, of the date on which the condition was met.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 6, 2023
AN/slp