HB 2549 Summary

• Amends water accounting requirements for persons delivering combined surface water and groundwater by clarifying that estimates and accounting must be provided to the director before each accounting period and within ninety days after each period ends.

• Modifies the definition of "area of impact" in water storage law to specify three categories: areas within one mile of underground storage facilities, areas within one mile of irrigation district boundaries with groundwater savings facilities, and areas demonstrating positive hydrologic impact through director-approved models.

• Adds section 45-576.10 establishing that certificates of assured water supply using nonlocal groundwater or water from outside the active management area shall be deemed consistent with management goals and physically available without requiring director review of other water sources in the same municipal provider's system.

• Allows water providers in the Pinal active management area to include stored water recovered within the area of impact in assured water supply designations without additional physical availability review if the total volume does not exceed previous designations minus actual withdrawals.

• Clarifies that water delivery accounting provisions do not change the applicability of groundwater conservation rules to water supplies physically containing groundwater.