groundwater permits; technical correction

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

SB1514: Technical Correction for Groundwater Permits

This bill fixes a grammar error by changing 'he' to 'the director' and clarifies rules about issuing permits for poor quality groundwater in Arizona.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the law to say 'the director' instead of 'he' when talking about who decides on permits.
• Allows the director to issue a permit if they decide the water has no other useful purpose right now and fits the management plan.
• Sets that these permits can last up to thirty-five years based on how long the water source is expected to last.
• Requires the director to watch the water use and end the permit if the original conditions are not met anymore.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Arizona Department of Water Resources or its director
• Non-irrigation users who want a permit for poor quality groundwater

Terms To Know

Director

The official in charge of water resources who decides on permits.

Non-irrigation user

A person or business that uses groundwater for purposes other than watering crops.

Limits and Unknowns

• The official text does not list an effective date.
• This bill only changes one specific section of the law and does not cover all water rules.

Official Summary Text

SB1514 - groundwater permits; technical correction

Current Bill Text

SB1514 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
groundwater permits; technical correction

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1514

Introduced by

Senator
Dunn

AN
ACT

amending section 45-516, Arizona Revised
Statutes; relating to waters.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 45-516, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
45-516.

Poor quality groundwater withdrawal permit; conditions for
issuance; duration of permit

A. The director may issue a permit to a
non-irrigation user to withdraw poor quality groundwater if
he

the director
determines that the groundwater to be
withdrawn because of its quality has no other beneficial use at the present
time and that the withdrawal of such groundwater is consistent with the
management plan.

B. A permit issued pursuant to this section may be
issued for a period of up to thirty-five years, subject to subsection
C. The director shall determine the duration of the permit on the
basis of the estimated life of the source of poor quality groundwater.

C. The director shall monitor withdrawals of
groundwater pursuant to
the
poor quality groundwater
withdrawal permit and shall terminate the permit if the conditions specified in
subsection A no longer apply.
END_STATUTE