AMWUA vigorously protects our members’ ability to provide assured, safe, and sustainable water supplies and advocates for Arizona’s continued water security.
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:
Where We Stand on Legislation
2020 - Fifty-fourth Legislature Second Regular Session
Arizona Senate
Arizona House
HB 2076: Appropriation; DWR; additional staff
In Brief: Appropriates $6.1 million for the Arizona Department of Water Resources to hire additional staff.
Sponsor(s): Gabaldón
Last Action: Prefiled
Description: This bill would appropriate $6.1 million to the Arizona Department of Water Resources for the purpose of hiring hydrologists, modelers, and other support staff.
HB 2098: Dam safety study committee
In Brief: Establishes a Dam Safety Study Committee.
Sponsor(s): Griffin
Last Action:
Description: This bill would create a Dam Safety Study Committee consisting of two appointed legislators and the Director of ADWR or their nominee. The Committee would be required to consider the safety of dams throughout Arizona complete a report of their findings by December 31st, 2020.
HB 2101: Appropriation; Arizona water protection fund
In Brief: Appropriates $1 million from the general fund to the Arizona Water Protection Fund.
Sponsor(s): Griffin & Nutt
Last Action:
Description: This bill would appropriate $1,000,000 from the state general fund in fiscal year 2020-21 to the Arizona Water Protection Fund. The Arizona Water Protection Fund is a state-run program administered by ADWR that funds projects to protect and enhance water quality and quantity in Arizona's rivers, streams, and riparian areas. Some of these efforts include revegetation, erosion control, channel stabilization, research, and water conservation.
HB 2158: Water; well metering; nonexempt wells
In Brief: Mandates water use metering and reporting for nonexempt groundwater wells
Sponsor(s): Engel and seven others
Last Action:
Description: This bill mandates measuring and annual reporting for nonexempt groundwater wells throughout the state. Nonexempt wells include those with a pumping capacity greater than 35 gallons-per-minute. Current law contains no measuring requirements for wells outside of the AMAs or INA except for a person who withdraws groundwater for transportation to an initial AMA.
HB 2159: Water adequacy requirements; statewide applicability
In Brief: Establishes requirement for counties to establish mandatory water adequacy provisions for subdivision development approval.
Sponsor(s): Engel
Last Action:
Description: This bill would mandate that counties outside of the Active Management Areas (AMA) adopt an adequate water requirement for subdivided lands within the county. Currently counties outside of an AMA have an option to adopt the mandatory adequacy provisions upon unanimous vote of the county Board of Supervisors.
HB 2161: Irrigation non-expansion areas; water supplies
In Brief: Modifies the criteria for ADWR's consideration of designating a new INA to include future groundwater withdrawal rates.
Sponsor(s): Engel
Last Action:
Description: An irrigation non-expansion area (INA) is a geographical area that has been designated as having insufficient groundwater for irrigation of cultivated lands. Within an INA expansion of new irrigated acreage is generally prohibited and water management regulations, such as well metering, apply. Arizona’s Groundwater Code allows the Director of ADWR to designate new INA’s based upon certain criteria, including if the Director determines that “there is insufficient groundwater . . . at the current rates of withdrawal.” In 2015, a petition from irrigators in the San Simon Valley to establish a new INA was declined by ADWR; the Director noting in his decision that he could not consider future groundwater uses in the determination. HB 2161 would require the Director to consider projected rates of groundwater withdrawals in their determination of a new INA.
HB 2174: Exempt wells; capacity
In Brief: Redefines the maximum pumping capacity for groundwater withdrawal wells exempt from the Groundwater Code.
Sponsor(s): Blanc, Chavez, Peten
Last Action:
Description: The Groundwater Code defines exempt wells as those with a maximum pumping capacity of less than 35 gallons-per-minute (gpm) used to withdraw groundwater for non-irrigation uses. These wells are exempt from most of the provisions of the Groundwater Code. This bill alters that criterion, changing the threshold for exemption to a maximum capacity of 20 gpm of pumping capacity.
The AMWUA Press Room
Media ContactLatest News
AZ Central
Ducey defends Arizona’s record on water, says state has ‘more to do’Gov. Doug Ducey is touting Arizona’s record on water while also acknowledging the state has “more to do” in some areas.
AZ Central
Arizona lawmakers call for measuring groundwater pumping in rural areasBoth Republicans and Democrats are backing measures in the Legislature that would enable Arizona to start measuring how much groundwater is pumped in unregulated rural areas where aquifers have...
AZ Central
Legislature plans to address groundwater crisis in rural ArizonaState legislators plan to tackle widespread problems of groundwater overpumping in rural Arizona this session, proposing bills that would make it easier to limit well-drilling in farming areas...
Phoenix New Times
What's on Tap for Arizona Water in 2020? Five Issues to WatchEach year, water becomes a little more scarce in the Southwest, and each year, everyone in Arizona jostles a tad more fiercely to hold onto their precious shares of this vital resource.
Capitol Times
Rural groundwater pumping is next big Arizona water issue for lawmakersArizona lawmakers once again face tough questions of how to deal with increased demand for water in the face of drier weather, and how to get water to where it is needed.
Phoenix New Times
Bill Seeks $6.1 Million and More Hydrologists for Arizona Department of Water ResourcesA bill in the Arizona Legislature seeks to allocate an extra $6.1 million to the under-resourced Arizona Department of Water Resources so it can hire more employees, including scientists.
KTAR
Water supply a major issue for upcoming Arizona legislative sessionRepublican and Democratic leaders of the Arizona House are eyeing the state’s water supply as a major issue for the legislative session that starts next week.
Arizona Public Media
Planning for a future with less Colorado River waterThe Colorado River is often called the lifeblood of the western U.S., supplying water to tens of millions of people across seven states and Mexico. But a new book argues that science from a century...
Cronkite News
Teamwork will be key to balancing the overcommitted Colorado RiverAlong with long-term drought and climate change, the overcommitment of the Colorado River is a big reason why Lake Mead has dropped to historic levels in recent years. Fixing it could be a big...
AZ Central
Lawmakers could stop Arizona's next water war. But will they?Opinion: Powerful interests are lining up to move water from river communities to Phoenix and Tucson. Those communities need a veto.
