ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

House: NREW DP 5-2-1-2

HB 2753: groundwater replenishment; Pinal AMA

Sponsor: Representative Martinez, LD 16

Caucus & COW

Overview

Allows a municipal provider that applies for a new designation of assured water supply in the Pinal active management area (AMA) to assume the replenishment obligations of member service lands that are located within the provider’s service area.

History

Groundwater Code and Assured Water Supply

The Groundwater Management Code (Code), enacted in 1980 established the statutory framework to regulate and control the use of groundwater in Arizona. The Code’s Assured and Adequate Water Supply Program requires a developer to provide information on a proposed subdivision’s water supplies to the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) before the land can be offered for sale or lease. Specific requirements apply depending on whether the subdivision is inside or outside an AMA (A.R.S. § 45-576) (ADWR).

Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District

The Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD) is a function of the Central Arizona Project that replenishes groundwater pumped by its members and provides a way to comply with requirements of the assured water supply program (AWS) (CAGRD). Any person proposing to offer subdivided lands for sale or lease in an active management area is required to apply for and obtain a certificate of assured water supply issued by the Director of ADWR before presenting the plat for approval to the city, town or county in which the land is located. The Director is required to adopt and carry out rules providing for a reduction in water demand for an application for designation of an AWS (A.R.S. § 45-576).

Provisions

1. Allows a municipal provider that applies for a new designation of AWS in the Pinal AMA to assume replenishment obligations for member lands in the municipal service area and to allow the member lands to retain a replenishment obligation. (Sec. 1)

2. Requires ADWR, on or before January 1, 2026, to amend rules related to the AWS program. (Sec. 2)

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6. HB 2753

7. Initials CW Page 0 Caucus & COW

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