About The Programs
The Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) Assured and Adequate Water Supply programs were created to address the problem of limited groundwater supplies in Arizona. Both the Assured and Adequate Water Supply programs evaluate the availability of a 100-year water supply considering current and committed demand, as well as growth projections.
The Assured Water Supply Program operates within Arizona’s six Active Management Areas (AMAs). It is designed to sustain the state’s economic health by preserving groundwater resources and promoting long-term water supply planning. AMAs are those areas of the state where significant groundwater depletion has occurred historically and include portions of Cochise, Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz and Yavapai counties.
The Adequate Water Supply Program operates outside of the AMAs. It ensures that the water adequacy or inadequacy is disclosed in the public report provided to potential first purchasers and that any water supply limitations are described in promotional or advertising material. However, in a mandatory adequacy jurisdiction, adequacy of water supplies must be demonstrated prior to plat approval and issuance of a public report.
2023 DESIGNATION OF ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY ANNUAL REPORT FORM
Demonstration of Assured or Adequate Water Supplies
Assured Water Supply Program – Before recording plats or selling parcels within an AMA, developers must demonstrate all of the criteria in the table below. The Arizona Department of Real Estate will not issue a public report, which allows the developer to sell lots, without a demonstration of an assured water supply.
Adequate Water Supply Program – Only the first five criteria in the table below must be demonstrated to obtain an Adequate Water Supply determination. State statute requires subdivision developers to obtain a determination from ADWR regarding water supply availability before marketing lots. Inadequacy of supply must be disclosed in the public report and in any promotional or advertising material provided to potential first purchasers.
Demonstration of Criteria
| Criteria | Description |
|---|---|
| Physical Water Availability | Sources of water have specific requirements for demonstration of physical availability. A list of those specific requirements can be found in the Arizona Administrative Code. (See: A.A.C. R12-15-716) |
| Continuous Water Availability | Water providers or developers must demonstrate that the water supply is uninterruptible for the 100-year period, or that sufficient backup supplies exist for any anticipated shortages. (See: A.A.C. R12-15-717) |
| Legal Water Availability | An applicant must demonstrate legal rights to all water supplies included in the application. (See: A.A.C. R12-15-718) |
| Water Quality | Proposed sources of water must satisfy existing state water quality standards and any other quality standards applicable to the proposed use after treatment. (See: A.A.C. R12-15-719) |
| Financial Capability | Water providers or developers must demonstrate financial capability to construct the water delivery system and any storage or treatment facilities. Financial capability for developers is typically considered through the local government's subdivision review process. A demonstration is also required that adequate delivery, storage and treatment works will be available to the applicant or the applicant's customers for 100 years. (See: A.A.C. R12-15-720) |
| Consistency with the Management Plan (Assured Water Supply Only) | Each AMA's Management Plan prescribes water conservation requirements for municipal water providers. Water demand associated with proposed subdivisions is evaluated in accordance with these conservation requirements. (See: A.A.C. R12-15-721) |
| Consistency with the Management Goal (Assured Water Supply Only) | Applicants must demonstrate consistency with the management goals of each AMA. (See: A.A.C. R12-15-722) |
Please refer to the Arizona Administrative Code Title 12, Chapter 15 to access the rules listed above.
View the Guidelines for Hydrologic Studies for Assured and Adequate Water Supplies.
Mandatory Adequacy Jurisdictions
For most areas outside of the AMAs, an adequacy determination from the Department is not required prior to recording a plat and initiating lot sales. For those areas (non-mandatory adequacy jurisdictions), developers may apply to the Department for an adequate or inadequate water adequacy determination, prior to initiating the final plat approval process with the local platting entity (city, town or county) and filing for a public report with the Arizona Department of Real Estate. However, some local jurisdictions (cities, towns and counties) have passed measures that require a 100-year water adequacy determination from ADWR prior to completing the final plat approval process. View the list of Mandatory Adequacy Jurisdictions.
Designation
Please note that various water providers have received a designation of assured or adequate water supply from the Department. Individual developers do not need to obtain a separate determination of assured or adequate water supply for their development if they will be served by one of these Designated Providers (05-03-2024). A written commitment of service from the designated provider will suffice to meet the assured or adequate water supply requirement.
Extinguishment Credits
One way to help meet the “consistency with the management goal” requirement for the issuance of a Certificate of Assured Water Supply or a Designation of Assured Water Supply is by pledging extinguishment credits to the Certificate or Designation. The owner of a Type I, Type II, or Irrigation Grandfathered Groundwater Right has the option of permanently extinguishing their groundwater right in exchange for extinguishment credits. These extinguishment credits can be pledged to a Certificate of Assured Water Supply or a Designation of Assured Water Supply to help meet consistency with the management goal requirement.
Extinguishment credits may also be conveyed anywhere within the same Active Management Area, provided those credits have not already been pledged toward a Certificate of Assured Water Supply or a Designation of Assured Water Supply. For more information about extinguishment credits, please see A.A.C. R12-15-723 and our FAQs page.