Recharge Program

Mission & Goals

Mission

The Arizona Department of Water Resources encourages the use of renewable water supplies, particularly Arizona’s entitlement to Colorado River water, instead of groundwater through a flexible and effective regulatory program for the underground storage, savings and replenishment of water.

Goals

The goals of the recharge program are:

• To promote the use of renewable water supplies, such as effluent, surface water and CAP water, over non-renewable groundwater, by allowing for flexible and effective storage and recovery of renewable water supplies;
   
• To provide for the efficient use of all water resources by allowing water to be "transported" by storing water in one location, but recovering a like quantity elsewhere;
   
• To extend conjunctive management to reduce overdraft, through storing water to prevent further water level declines;
   
• To utilize underground storage to accommodate seasonal demand for water; and
   
• To augment the water supply.