Panel backs measure allowing ADWR to count dedicated sources in commingled systems, ADWR warns of double-counting risks
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
House Bill 2026 would allow the Arizona Department of Water Resources to consider only proposed dedicated supply sources for a proposed use even if supplies are commingled; ADWR said the change raises tracking and groundwater-pumping concerns but the committee gave the bill a due-pass recommendation.
Sponsor (S20) said House Bill 2026 permits the director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources to consider only the proposed source(s) dedicated to a proposed use when determining if sufficient groundwater, surface water or effluent of adequate quality will be continuously available, even if the supply is delivered through a commingled system.
David Fernandez (S21) of ADWR testified the practice known as commingling mixes sources (effluent, groundwater, surface water) in a delivery system where molecules cannot be tracked back to a single source. He warned the bill could allow accounting that masks groundwater dependence and might enable double-counting or increased groundwater pumping, potentially weakening Arizona's assured-water-supply protections.
Committee members questioned how this proposal differs from ADWR's Alternative Designation of Assured Supply (ADAS) program and whether ADWR's recent programs address sponsor concerns. ADWR said the ADAS program is different and that the bill could include groundwater in commingled calculations, prompting some members to vote no while the committee overall returned a due-pass recommendation (vote reported as 5 ayes, 3 noes, 0 not voting).