ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: NREW DP 5-4-0-0

HB 2008: commercial; industrial; conservation requirements; rules

Sponsor: Representative Griffin, LD 19

Caucus & COW

Overview

Requires, by January 1, 2025, the Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) to adopt rules for each initial and subsequent active management area (AMA) for specified commercial and industrial water users.

History

The Groundwater Management Code (Code) was enacted in 1980 and established the statutory framework to regulate and control the use of groundwater.  As part of the management framework, the Code initially designated four active management areas (AMAs) and two irrigation non-expansion areas (INAs) in areas of the state where groundwater overdraft was most severe.  Currently there are six AMAs and three INAs. The AMAs are: Phoenix, Pinal, Prescott, Tucson, Santa Cruz and Douglas. The INAs are: Joseph City, Harquahala, and Hualapai Valley (A.R.S. §§ 45-411, 45-411.03, 45-431, 45-554)(ADWR) (SOS). 

A person who plans to sell or lease subdivided lands in an AMA must apply for and obtain a certificate of assured water supply from the Director of ADWR before presenting the plat for approval to the municipality or county in which the land is located. For each AMA in which member lands or service areas are located, a multi-county water conservation district must replenish groundwater in an amount equal to the groundwater replenishment obligation for that AMA (A.R.S. §§ 45-576, 48-3771). 

Provisions

1.   ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteRequires the Director of ADWR to adopt rules by January 1, 2025, for each initial and subsequent AMA for commercial and industrial water users within and outside the service area of a designated service provider that provide for greater water efficiency, conservation and on-site water reuse and recycling. (Sec. 1)

2.   Prohibits the rules adopted by the Director of ADWR from requiring a commercial or industrial water user to obtain a certificate of assured water supply, enroll as member land in a multi-county water conservation district or otherwise meet a statutory replenishment obligation. (Sec. 1)

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6.                     HB 2008

7.   Initials EB           Page 0 Caucus & COW

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