REFERENCE TITLE: brackish groundwater pilot program

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2024

HB 2184

Introduced by

Representatives Smith: Kolodin

An Act

amending Laws 2023, chapter 133, section 97; relating to the department of water resources.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Laws 2023, chapter 133, section 97 is amended to read:

Sec. 97. DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES

2022-23

FTE positions                               179.0

Operating lump sum appropriation     $ 15,228,500

Adjudication support                    1,900,600

Arizona water protection fund

 deposit                              1,250,000

Assured and adequate water supply

 administration                       2,513,400

Brackish groundwater study               100,000*

Brackish groundwater recovery pilot

 program                            11,000,000*

Rural water studies                     1,290,800

Conservation and drought program          430,300

Automated groundwater monitoring          418,600

Colorado River legal expenses        500,000*

Water supply and demand assessment 3,500,000

Santa Rosa canal groundwater

 delivery                           25,000,000*

Statewide water resources planning    5,000,000

Total appropriation - department of water                 

resources                            $ 68,132,200

Fund sources:

State general fund                   $ 66,114,500

Water resources fund                    1,726,500

Assured and adequate water

 supply administration fund             291,200

Monies in the assured and adequate water supply administration line item may be used only for the exclusive purposes prescribed in sections 45-108, 45-576, 45-577, 45-578 and 45-579, Arizona Revised Statutes. The department of water resources may not transfer any monies into or out of the assured and adequate water supply administration line item.

The department of water resources shall use the monies in the brackish groundwater study line item to review and update information contained in studies on the availability of brackish groundwater in this state.

Of the $11,000,000 allocated to the brackish groundwater recovery pilot program line item, $2,000,000 is allocated to the department of water resources for a brackish groundwater desalination demonstration program and to develop a base of knowledge to enhance groundwater recovery through desalination in this state's active management areas state.  The department shall locate this pilot program within the department's active management area section of the department that the director of water resources deems most appropriate, and a portion of the monies may be used for staffing.  The department shall organize the program following the model of work undertaken by the Texas water development board to further the use and development of cost-effective desalination technologies.

Of the $11,000,000 allocated to the brackish groundwater recovery pilot program line item, $9,000,000 is allocated for matching participants dollar-for-dollar for brackish groundwater desalination projects within active management areas undertaken for the benefit of those receiving water from the central Arizona project this state. The central Arizona project shall receive three dollars $3 for every dollar it contributes to this pilot program for brackish groundwater desalination projects within active management areas.

The legislature intends that monies in the rural water studies line item be spent only to assess local water use needs and to develop plans for sustainable future water supplies in rural areas outside this state's active management areas and not be made available for other department operating expenditures.

Monies in the adjudication support line item may be used only for the exclusive purposes prescribed in section 45-256, Arizona Revised Statues, and section 45-257, subsection B, paragraph 4, Arizona Revised Statutes.  The department of water resources may not transfer any monies into or out of the adjudication support line item.

The department of water resources may not transfer any monies from the Colorado River legal expenses line item without prior review by the joint legislative budget committee.

On or before July 31, 2024, the department of water resources shall report to the joint legislative budget committee and the governor's office of strategic planning and budgeting on the uses of the monies appropriated to the statewide water resources planning line item.

The department of water resources shall use the monies in the Santa Rosa canal groundwater delivery line item to distribute equally between the irrigation districts that are constructing infrastructure in furtherance of the purposes of the settlement between the Maricopa-Stanfield irrigation and drainage district, the central Arizona irrigation and drainage district and the Ak-Chin Indian community and with respect to the delivery of groundwater by the districts by means other than the Santa Rosa canal.