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

House Engrossed

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).

The ADWR Director is required to develop management plans for the fourth period (2010 to 2020) and fifth period (2020-2025), outlining irrigation water duties, conservation requirements, and other measures for each initial AMA (A.R.S. §§ 45-567, 45-568).

Provisions

1. Requires the Director of ADWR to modify the fourth and fifth management plans to include conservation requirements by January 1, 2025, for each initial and subsequent AMA for industrial uses that are within and outside the service area of a designated service provider and that:

a) are located outside the service area of a municipal provider;

b) are not subject to any conservation requirements for industrial uses pursuant to an AMA management plan; and

c) use greater than 250 acre-feet of water per year. (Sec. 1)

2. Prohibits the fourth and fifth management plans, ADWR or any political subdivisions of Arizona from requiring a person who uses water an industrial use 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)

3. Specifies that the conservation requirements must include on-site water reuse, recycling and efficiency requirements. (Sec. 1)

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7. HB 2008

8. Initials EB Page 0 House Engrossed

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