HB416 - Alabama Water Conservation and Security Act

• Creates the Alabama Water Conservation and Security Act to establish state authority to preserve water flows and availability through comprehensive water planning and management of both surface and groundwater resources.

• Authorizes the Water Resources Commission to declare water shortages or emergencies and empowers the Office of Water Resources to restrict water withdrawals, allocate water among competing uses, and provide conservation credits to users implementing conservation measures during shortage or emergency periods.

• Requires the state to preserve environmental flows and levels in all water sources necessary to protect biological, chemical, and physical integrity; establishes that the Office of Water Resources may set environmental flow standards by rule after consultation with the Alabama Water Resources Council.

• Establishes burden of proof on persons proposing water withdrawals to demonstrate proposed withdrawals will not impair protected environmental flows or levels, with exceptions only during declared water emergencies to prevent grave threats to human life or health.

• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and Governor approval.