Issues and News
Where we stand on the issues
Smart water policy and careful planning, investment, and management have enabled AMWUA’s members to build robust, reliable water supplies that support our communities and economy. It is imperative that we continue to address the issues in front of us to ensure the future viability of those supplies. Learn more about some of the issues we are working on:
Water Conservation Rebate Tax Parity
Taxing water conservation rebates impedes efforts to encourage the adoption of water efficiency measures.
Drought & Shortage
Ongoing drought, climate change, and over-allocation of the Colorado River system place increasing pressure on Arizona’s water supplies.
Colorado River Shortage
Levels at Lake Mead are rapidly dropping, in part, because the water stored in this reservoir is over allocated to the states that share it. This puts...
Where we stand on Legislation
2024 - Fifty-sixth Legislature - Second Regular Session
Arizona Senate
SB 1114
assured water supply; analysis; availability
In Brief
Requires the Arizona Department of Water Resources to accept previously issued Analyses of Assured Water Supply as valid demonstrations of groundwater physical availability when processing Certificate of Assured Water Supply applications.
SB 1523
water use; prohibition; landscaping
In Brief
B 1523 would prohibit municipalities in the Prescott, Phoenix, Tucson, and Santa Cruz Active Management Areas (AMAs) from adopting or enforcing any requirement tof landscaping and prohibit requirements for open spaces beyond for retention and detached sidewalks.
SCR 1008
municipalities; counties; vote; fee increases
In Brief
A legislative referral that requires at least a 2/3 vote for a city, town, or county to levy or increase an assessment, tax, or fee.
SB 1611
physical availability exemption credit; groundwater
In Brief
Establishes a process for obtaining a physical availability exemption credit that can be used towards Assured Water Supply determinations by relinquishing an irrigation grandfathered right.
SB 1236
S/E: stormwater
In Brief
Allows someone to earn a replenishment credit by storing stormwater at a constructed underground storage facility, which may be used to offset a replenishment obligation.
SB 1013
municipalities; counties; fee increases; vote
In Brief
Requires at least a 2/3 vote for a city or town council or a county board of supervisors to levy or increase any assessment, tax, or fee.
SB 1530
groundwater storage facility; withdrawals; area
In Brief
SB 1530 would require ADWR to assume that a recovery well is located within the area of impact if the permit applicant did not submit a hydrologic study and the recovery well is located in specificified areas.
SB 1521
unbuilt certificates; assured water supply
In Brief
SB 1521 allows the sale, transfer, or aggregation of unbuilt Certificates of Assured Water Supply separate from their original lots or parcels.
SB 1522
waterlogged area; exemption area
In Brief
SB 1522 would allow Buckeye to pump up to 10,000 acre-feet of groundwater annually from the Buckeye Waterlogged Area (BWLA).
Arizona House
HB 2106
S/E: establishment; advanced water purification permit
In Brief
Clarifies the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality's regulatory authorities for advanced water purification.
HB 2297
designation; assured water supply; offset
In Brief
Establishes the Alternative Pathway to Designation in statute, but lowers the groundwater offset from 25% to 5% while significantly increasing the groundwater allowance.
HB 2298
S/E: physical availability exemption credit; groundwater
In Brief
Establishes a process for obtaining a physical availability exemption credit that can be used towards Assured Water Supply determinations by relinquishing an irrigation grandfathered right.
HB 2204
assured water supply; commingling
In Brief
Requires the Arizona Department of Water Resources, when evaluating a Certificate of Assured Water Supply application, to only consider the proposed water source in a commingled systems.
HB 2691
groundwater replenishment districts; annual dues
In Brief
Make changes to the formula for calculating annual membership dues for Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District members, which will stabilize increases or decreases in dues.
HB 2103
appropriation; Colorado River Compact; defense
In Brief
Appropriates $1 million to the Arizona Department of Water Resources for potential litigation related to defending Arizona’s allocation to the Colorado River water under the 1922 Colorado River Compact.
HB 2299
assured water supply; certificate; model
In Brief
Requires the Arizona Department of Water Resources to review applications for Certificates of Assured Water Supply submitted between January 26, 2021 and May 31,2023 using the 2006-2009 Salt River Valley Regional Model or 2006 Lower Hassayampa Sub-Basin Groundwater Flow Model.
HB 2270
groundwater model; stormwater recharge; AMAs
In Brief
Requires the Arizona Department of Water Resources to adopt rules to update its groundwater models for active management areas to account for any natural, incidental, or artificial stormwater recharge created through new or existing infrastructure. Any recharge generated by this new or existing infrastructure would be assumed to offset a portion of future groundwater use.
HB 2568
conservation requirements; industrial water use
In Brief
HB 2568 would require ADWR to develop additional conservation requirements in its management plan for industrial facilities using more than 100 acre-feet of water per year.
HCR 2038
rulemaking; legislative ratification; regulatory costs
In Brief
HCR 2038 is similar to SCR 1012 (rulemaking; legislative ratification; regulatory costs), which was introduced last session and ultimately voted down as Proposition 315 in the 2024 general election.
AMWUA Press Room
Can the monsoon end Arizona's ongoing drought? What to watch for this summer
The monsoon can bring dramatic showers and flash flooding to the desert. In a good year, monsoon rain can ease wildfire risks, reduce demand on reservoirs and help wildlife. What it can’t do is pull Arizona out of its drought. ...
Has the Colorado River reached a turning point? Not yet
Colorado River negotiations are no longer at a standstill. But will a new framework lead to a deal that keeps the water flowing? It's too early to tell....
'Ag-to-urban': Gov. Katie Hobbs signs water bill
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has signed SB 1611, also known as the "ag-to-urban" bill....
ASU professor involved in water project studying what motivates people to remove their grass
Researchers from Arizona State University seek to understand the reasons for people choosing whether or not to participate in grass-removal programs. The project focuses on the programs in Scottsdale....
Sarah Porter: The future of Arizona’s water policy
Porter sat down with the ...
Water is essential for life
It supplies food, generates energy, and creates jobs. The wellbeing of our communities and economies depends on it. In a desert, we are acutely aware that we must continue to plan, invest, and develop forward-thinking policy today to ensure safe, reliable, and sustainable water supplies for the future.
