Water Resources Section

The ADWR Hydrology Division provides hydrologic support and technical review of many water availability related programs administered by the Department.  The Water Resources Section is responsible for the determination of well impacts and reviewing and preparing hydrologic studies in support of the Assured and Adequate Water Supply Program.

Well Impact Studies

Background

The 1980 Groundwater Code limits withdrawals of groundwater within Active Management Areas (AMAs) to holders of groundwater rights, service area rights and groundwater withdrawal permits, and small domestic users.  The Water Resources Section is responsible for the technical analysis of groundwater withdrawal impacts from wells located within AMAs pursuant to ADWR groundwater withdrawal permits.

Objectives

1. Review of all incoming groundwater withdrawal permits in accordance with its associated Licensing Time-Frame (LTF).
    
2. Use accepted analytical methods to analyze future impacts to surrounding land and well owners caused by the proposed withdrawal of groundwater.  This includes determining the five-year 10-foot water-level drawdown contour at the well location(s) as well as projecting the amount of water-level drawdown at the well(s) in use pursuant to the associated well permit.
    
3. To review proposed well construction for compliance with ADWR's Well Construction Standards (http://www.azwater.gov/dwr/Content/Find_by_Program/Wells/Statutes_and_Rules2006.doc) pursuant to groundwater withdrawal permits .

A well impact study is also known as distance-drawdown or well spacing analysis.

The analysis determines the radius of the 10-foot water-level drawdown contour after five years of pumping the proposed well site.  The drawdown or depth-to-water at the proposed well site is also calculated.

Assured and Adequate Water Supply Studies

Background

Applicants for Assured or Adequate Water Supply Applications, as described in more detail under ADWR Programs, must demonstrate physical availability of the proposed water supply.  Water must be physically and continuously available to meet the projected demands for at least 100 years.  If the proposed source of water is groundwater, a hydrologic study for the applicant's project area must be submitted with the application.  Groundwater is considered physically available if the 100-year depth-to-static water level (feet below land surface) meets the following criteria:

Physical Availability of Groundwater

Active Management Areas

• Inside the Phoenix, Tucson and Prescott AMAs, the depth to water after 100 years cannot exceed 1,000 feet for subdivisions with central providers.
   
• Inside the Pinal AMA, the depth to water after 100 years cannot exceed 1,100 feet for subdivisions with central providers.
   
• The depth to water after 100 years cannot exceed 400 feet for dry-lot subdivisions.
   
• The depth to water requirement has not yet been established in the Santa Cruz AMA.
   

Outside Active Management Areas

• Outside the active management areas, the depth to water after 100 years cannot exceed 1,200 feet for subdivisions with central providers.
   
• Outside the active management areas, the depth to water after 100 years cannot exceed 400 feet for dry lot subdivisions.

Objectives

The purpose of the hydrologic study is to demonstrate physical availability of groundwater or surface water at the applicant's location consistently with criteria defined in the Assured and Adequate Water Supply Rules R12-15-703, 704, 717, and 718.  The study should present only hydrologic information pertinent to the review area. All sources of information used in the study should be identified including basic data collected by the consultant. Basic data for the immediate area of the subdivision must be current.  The level of technical detail and analysis may vary depending on the hydrogeologic conditions of the area.  For detailed information please refer to the Hydrology Division's 2007 Substantive Policy Statement on Hydrologic Guidelines for AWS

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Hydrology Division Navigation Links

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