This bill proposes to amend current groundwater management statutes by prohibiting the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) Director from adopting rules that apply the Pinal active management area (AMA) statutes to cities or towns in the Phoenix AMA that have received a designation of assured water supply (AWS). Specifically, it deletes the provision that allows the director to revise rules to apply section 45-576.08 to other AMAs, thereby ensuring that the Phoenix AMA is treated differently regarding AWS designations.

Additionally, the bill mandates that within thirty days of its effective date, the ADWR Director must review the physical availability of groundwater and stored water for each city or town in the Phoenix AMA that has received an AWS designation. This insertion emphasizes the need for timely assessments of water availability in designated areas, which is a new requirement not present in the current statutes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-576.09