SAWUA maintains a responsive and respected presence at the Arizona Legislature working with elected officials, senior appointed officials, and stakeholders to advocate for effective water policy, mitigating those measures that otherwise may potentially have adverse impacts and, when necessary, opposing legislation that would be detrimental to Southern Arizona or statewide water policy interests.
SAWUA's legislative briefing document is intended to provide Legislators and legislative staff with an overview of water policy issues that impact Southern Arizona. This briefing is designed to provide a concise reference to those issues.
View the presentations that were delivered at the 2022 SAWUA Forum.
Arizona Water Factsheet: Pima County 2022 is now available to view. Learn more about Arizona's future of water management and sustainability.
Each year, the SAWUA Board of Directors adopts policy priorities to guide the association throughout the legislative session. These policy priorities are to assist legislators from Southern Arizona in understanding what water policies are most important to the region.
The Southern Arizona Water Users Association produces a Bulletin on issues of interest as they arise which are distributed to elected officials, senior appointed officials, and stakeholders. Bulletins are also available on the SAWUA website.
Developing long-term strategies for water desalination, long-term water augmentation, policies addressing Non-Active Management Area (AMA) groundwater, and developing strategic solutions for water management challenges facing the AMAs beyond 2025.
For over a decade SAWUA has supported Ride With Purpose helping to provide for safe drinking water, sanitation services and environmental stewardship to communities in need.
Past Bulletins, Resolutions, Bills of Interest, and content from SAWUA's annual Water Issues Forum are available here.
The Southern Arizona Water Users Association produces a Bulletin on issues of interest as they arise which are distributed to elected officials, senior appointed officials, and stakeholders. Bulletins are also available on the SAWUA website.
After the completion of the LBDCP, stakeholders continued to collaborate on long- term water policy and potential legislation for the 2020 legislative session.
The Governor’s Water Augmentation, Innovation, and Conservation Council continued to develop long-term strategies towards water desalination, long-term water augmentation, policies addressing Non-Active Management Area (AMA) groundwater, and to develop strategic solutions for water management challenges facing the AMAs beyond 2025.
Consistent with the statutory requirements of the Groundwater Management Act of 1980, the Arizona Department of Water Resources hosted workgroups for the 4th and 5th Management Plan.
Among the most notable private-sector venues was the Vetting Forum 4 Water discussions, coordinated by the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association and the Agri-Business Council, which focused on discussions for the 2020 legislative session. This forum benefitted from sustained participation by policymakers who engaged in public discussions on their respective water policy legislative priorities, thereby providing water policy stakeholders and elected officials with the opportunity to work through policy and implementation challenges well in advance of the 2020 legislative session. The roundtable discussion also created a mechanism for water policy professionals to outline their own water policy perspectives, thus creating a greater awareness for policymakers on matters impacting water resource concerns throughout the state.
This process generated discussions revolving around six legislative proposals regarding the: General Stream Adjudication Process; Direct Distribution of Water Bank Credits for Recovery; Water Efficiency Plumbing Standards; the Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund (WQARF); and best land management practices relating to the removal of hazardous vegetation, often referred to as waterlogging.
Mark Stratton of Ride With Purpose (R) presents Joe Olsen, SAWUA President (L), with a plaque in appreciation of SAWUA's support for over a decade to this charitable organization. Ride With Purpose organizes motorcycle charity rides throughout the year across the United States and Canada to raise money and awareness for non-profit organizations that provide for safe drinking water, sanitation services and environmental stewardship to communities in need.
Bills of Interest
SAWUA Water Issues Forum
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