ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: NREW DPA 6-4-0-0

HB 2029: groundwater model; unpledged effluent

Sponsor: Representative Griffin, LD 19

Caucus & COW

Overview

Requires the Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) to assume, for purposes of groundwater modeling, that unpledged effluent created within an active management area (AMA) will be used to replace the groundwater demand in the basin. 

History

The Groundwater Code’s Assured and Adequate Water Supply Program requires a developer to provide information on a proposed subdivision’s water supplies to ADWR before the property can be marketed. Specific requirements apply, depending on whether the subdivision is inside or outside an AMA (A.R.S. § 45-576).

ADWR uses hydrologic models to simulate and predict groundwater conditions. Models incorporate various assumptions to make long-term management decisions and predict potential future impacts.  An applicant for a determination of assured water supply is required to submit a hydrologic study, using a method of analysis approved by the Director of ADWR (A.C.C. R12-15-716(B)).

A groundwater model can include a variety of data relating to: 1) measurements of water levels over time; 2) physical availability of water; 3) natural recharge and discharge rates; 4) water level decline rates and trends; 5) projected water demand associated with the project; 6) the proposed source of supply; and 7) an evaluation of existing uses  (ADWR Hydrologic Guidelines). 

Effluent is water that has been collected in a sanitary sewer for subsequent treatment in a facility that is regulated by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Such water remains effluent until it acquires the characteristics of groundwater or surface water (A.R.S. § 45-101).

Provisions

1.   Requires the Director of ADWR to ensure that any groundwater modeling ADWR uses to evaluate projected groundwater levels for the purposes of determining an assured water supply designation assumes any effluent, if created in an AMA and not pledged to a specific user, will be used to replace groundwater demand in the basin.

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteAmendments

Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water

1.   Clarifies that modeling used by ADWR to determine physical availability of water when evaluating an application for assured water supply assumes that any future effluent created within the AMA will be used to replace groundwater demand in the basin if:

a)   the effluent is not under contract to be used for a specified end use; or

b)   is under contract to be used to replenish groundwater in the AMA and will not be used to generate long term storage credits.

2.   Makes a technical change.

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6.                     HB 2029

7.   EB/KK      Page 0 Caucus & COW

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