Assured Water Supply Unit

Background

Applicants seeking an Assured or Adequate Water Supply Determination, as described in more detail by ADWR's Office of Assured and Adequate Water Supply, must demonstrate that a 100-year water supply is physically available to meet the estimated groundwater demand associated with their proposed project.  To make this demonstration, the applicant must submit a comprehensive hydrologic study of the proposed project's source aquifer.  The physical availability demonstration of groundwater has been made if the final calculated 100-year depth-to-static water level (feet below land surface) meets the following criteria:

Active Management Areas

Outside Active Management Areas

Objectives and Guidelines

The Assured Water Supply Unit reviews all hydrologic studies submitted in support of Assured or Adequate Water Supply Applications for consistency with the criteria defined in the Assured and Adequate Water Supply Rules R12-15-703, 704, 717, and 718.  The hydrologic study should include comprehensive data for the proposed project's study area.  All sources of information used in the study should be identified.  Depending on data availability for the study area, the applicant may be required to collect site specific information.  The level of technical detail and analysis can vary depending on the hydrogeologic conditions of the study area.  For detailed information please refer to the Hydrology Division's 2007 Substantive Policy Statement on Hydrologic Guidelines for AWS and the Department's 2009 notification on professional registration requirements for hydrogeologic and engineering studies .

Modifications to the Hydrologic Guidelines

Governor Jan Brewer has instituted a moratorium on all rulemaking activities by state agencies to give her appointees an opportunity to review any new or pending rules. Therefore, the Substantive Policy Statement on Hydrologic Guidelines modification process has been suspended until further notice.