The proposed bill 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 existing language, such as updating the term "sub-basin" to "subbasin" and clarifying the conditions under which recovery well permits are issued. The current statute's provisions regarding the rights of applicants, including conservation districts and existing wells, would remain largely unchanged, ensuring that the rights to recover stored water are preserved while streamlining the permitting process for recovery wells.

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