The proposed bill, HB2368, amends Arizona's groundwater code to allow owners of wells in the Upper San Pedro Groundwater Basin to withdraw groundwater for transportation to the Douglas Active Management Area (AMA) under specific conditions. These conditions include that the groundwater must be used for the same purposes as it was prior to December 1, 2022, and that the well owner or their predecessor must have previously withdrawn groundwater for this purpose by that date. Additionally, if the well owner is a private water company, they must possess a certificate of convenience and necessity from the Arizona Corporation Commission to provide municipal water service within the Douglas AMA.

The bill also stipulates that the total amount of groundwater transported annually cannot exceed the highest amount withdrawn for transportation in any of the ten years preceding December 1, 2022. Furthermore, well owners must submit evidence of their past withdrawals and the intended purposes for future withdrawals to the Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources within specified timeframes. Overall, the bill introduces new provisions for groundwater management while maintaining a focus on historical usage and regulatory compliance.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-555.01
House Engrossed Version: 45-555.01
Chaptered Version: 45-555.01