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AZ.gov Arizona's Official Website Arizona Department of Water Resources
Arizona Department of Water Resources AZ.gov Arizona's Official Web Site
Securing Arizona's Water Future
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Water Planners and Providers

"High quality water is more than the dream of the conservationists,
more than a political slogan; it is essential to health,

recreation, and economic growth."

~ Edmund S. Muskie, U.S. Senator, 1966

 

Arizona is one of the fastest growing states in the country, yet continues to face the uncertainty of drought. The Arizona Department of Water Resources takes an integrated approach to drought planning and water conservation by combining regulations, assistance, outreach and education.  The following information is designed to be helpful to community planners, water providers and others responsible for managing Arizona's water supplies.

Some water providers in the state are required to conserve but all water providers are encouraged to conserve.

CONSERVATION REQUIREMENTS

The level of regulation for water providers differs and is based on the size and location of the system. 

Providers located inside Arizona’s Active Management Areas (AMAs) are subject to regulatory requirements dictated by the Groundwater Code, including mandatory conservation requirements established in the Third Management Plan 2000-2010 and its modifications.

Requirements for municipal providers apply to those that serve more than 250 acre-feet of water per year for non-irrigation purposes. All providers are also required to submit a system water plan (consists of a water supply, conservation and drought plan) pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) § 45-342 and annual report (A.R.S. § 632). 

Planners Collage, CAP Canal Photo Courtesy of CAP
Spotlight on Conservation

Arizona is one of the highest scoring states on the Alliance for Water Efficiency‘s Conservation Scorecard. The scorecard provides state-by-state water efficiency information obtained through a survey. Results of the 2012 survey will soon replace the 2007 results.
The objectives of the Scorecard are to:
• Learn from what states are doing
• Motivate states to do more
• Encourage friendly competition as
with the State Energy Efficiency
Scorecard, and
• Create a foundation for future
project development and regular
updates to the scorecard.

ADWR’s Water Management Division web pages offer more information.

Providers located outside AMAs are only required to submit a system water plan and an annual water use report pursuant to A.R.S. §§ 45-342 and 343. They do not have mandatory conservation requirements other than what is written in the conservation plan portion of their system water plan. These requirements are applicable to community water systems, which are systems that serve 15 or more connections or 25 year-round residents.

ADWR’s Community Water System web page offers more information.

 

Other Regulatory Agencies

Other state agencies also regulate water providers. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality OffSite Icon and Arizona Corporation Commission OffSite Icon websites offer more information. Counties, cities and towns may also have local regulations.

 

Water Planners & Providers Section Navigation Links

Use the above links to navigate the Water Planners & ProvidersSection