The proposed bill, if enacted, would amend current statutes regarding the recovery of stored water within Arizona's active management areas (AMAs). Specifically, it would require the Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) to assume that a recovery well is located within the area of impact of stored water if the applicant does not submit a separate hydrologic study. This assumption would apply if the recovery well is situated on land permitted to operate as a groundwater savings facility or within one mile of specified locations, including the exterior boundary of a constructed underground storage facility or the middle line of a drainage channel within the storage area of a managed underground storage facility.

Additionally, the bill would make technical changes to the language of the current statutes, including the replacement of the term "sub-basin" with "subbasin." It would also clarify the conditions under which recovery can occur for water stored outside of an active management area, ensuring that recovery aligns with the same irrigation non-expansion area or groundwater basin where the water was originally stored. Overall, these updates aim to streamline the recovery process while maintaining regulatory oversight.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-834.01
Senate Engrossed Version: 45-834.01
House Engrossed Version: 45-834.01