Water Rights in Arizona
Water availability involves more than what lies underground. Explore how groundwater rights, Colorado River water, the Tucson Active Management Area, CAGRD, replenishment requirements, and Arizona water law shape Community Water’s long-term planning. Read more...
Arizona water law affects every part of Community Water’s long-term planning. Different rules apply to surface water, including Colorado River water and Santa Cruz River water, and to groundwater stored in aquifers, including the Upper Santa Cruz aquifer. These rules determine where water comes from, who has the legal right to use it, who must replenish it, and what costs are passed on to customers.
Community Water’s 1985 commitment to the Central Arizona Project, followed by a Central Arizona Project contract, helped secure access to a legal supply of Colorado River water. The prior appropriation doctrine governs Colorado River water, often described as “first in time, first in right.” The allocation gives Community Water the contractual right to receive water from Arizona’s share of the Colorado River supply, subject to contracts, shortages, operating rules, and costs.
Green Valley and Sahuarita are in the Tucson Active Management Area. The Tucson AMA’s goal is safe-yield, which means groundwater pumping should be balanced with water returned to the aquifer. In practical terms, the State wants groundwater use matched through conservation, renewable supplies, or recharge, including Central Arizona Project water.
Arizona law treats older and newer development differently. About 80% of Community Water’s service area was platted before the mid-1990s. These older areas are tied to older groundwater rights. Members in these areas pay Community Water for water service, but they do not pay a CAGRD replenishment charge. About 20% of Community Water’s service area was approved after the mid-1990s. These newer areas generally had to show an assured water supply before lots were developed. To meet that requirement, these lots were enrolled in the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD). CAGRD charges those newer lots to replenish groundwater used to serve them. That charge is separate from the water bill and is usually collected through the property tax bill.
Community Water has not sought a Designation of Assured Water Supply. A designation would shift the replenishment obligation to the utility. It would require Community Water to collect replenishment costs from all customers (both older and newer developments) and to pay CAGRD in accordance with CAGRD replenishment rates. It would allow for growth without requiring each developer to satisfy the replenishment obligation on a lot-by-lot basis. Because Community Water is a nonprofit water utility, not a developer, this approach would impose greater costs and risks on the membership without a clear member benefit.
The location of replenishment also matters. CAGRD replenishment water may meet its obligation by retiring long-term water credits, retiring farming water rights, or by recharge, including in areas outside Community Water’s local service area. These strategies satisfy a legal obligation, but they may not provide a direct hydrologic benefit to the aquifer that serves Community Water members.
This legal framework affects every member. Community Water is allowed to pump groundwater under State conservation rules. If pumping exceeds the amount allowed under those rules, the utility must replenish the excess water, implement conservation measures, evaluate operational changes, and provide greater reliance on renewable water supplies.
Water rights are the legal foundation for reliable service. Every gallon delivered by Community Water depends on groundwater rights, Central Arizona Project contracts, conservation rules, replenishment obligations, and long-term planning. Early planning, careful groundwater management, and long-term projects help protect members from supply and cost risks.
Project Renews
Project Renews is part of Community Water’s strategy for a more resilient water future. Learn how the project could bring Central Arizona Project water to the Green Valley and Sahuarita area for recharge and long-term supply planning. Read more...
Project Renews supports Community Water’s long-term water supply strategy. The project is intended to create a path to bring Colorado River water from the Central Arizona Project system into the Green Valley and Sahuarita area for recharge and water supply planning.
Project Renews does not replace the daily work of operating wells, treatment plants, reservoirs, pumps, and mains. Today’s water service still depends on local groundwater, treatment, storage, distribution infrastructure, trained staff, permits, power, and financial planning.
The purpose of Project Renews is to give Community Water another tool to reduce long-term reliance on local groundwater and improve water resilience. Recharge can support groundwater management by storing renewable supplies underground when water is available and the system can receive it.
Project Renews also helps explain why Community Water monitors Central Arizona Project costs, Colorado River conditions, groundwater law, CAGRD rules, and regional water policy. Changes in any of these areas can affect supply planning and customer costs.
Members should understand Project Renews as part of a broader strategy. It improves long-term planning options, but it does not eliminate the need for conservation, well maintenance, infrastructure replacement, regulatory compliance, and responsible rate planning.
Sulfate, Mining, and Groundwater Monitoring
Community Water monitors groundwater conditions beyond its own facilities. Learn about regional sulfate concerns associated with mining activity, why the Company follows the issue, and what current testing shows about impacts to our water supply. Read more...
Community Water monitors regional groundwater conditions because local groundwater quality can be affected by natural conditions, historic activity, and nearby land uses. One regional issue is the presence of sulfate and total dissolved solids associated with mining-related groundwater impacts in the Green Valley area. Testing shows that the sulfate plume does not currently impact us.
Community Water’s annual Water Quality Report notes whether delivered drinking water is affected by regulated contaminants and explains detected levels. The Company also tracks source water and regional information to understand long-term trends and risks.
A Community Advisory Group was established as part of sulfate mitigation efforts involving the local mine and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Community Water representatives attend these meetings to stay informed, review information, and understand potential effects on local groundwater resources.
This issue is separate from routine drinking water compliance. Community Water continues to test delivered water, operate treatment systems, and report results in accordance with applicable drinking water rules. Monitoring regional groundwater conditions helps the Company plan for supply and treatment needs.
The Regulatory Calendar and What It Costs
Water service involves much more than operating pumps and pipes. Discover the testing, reporting, certifications, inspections, filings, and other regulatory requirements Community Water must complete—and why compliance is part of the cost of reliable service. Read more...
Compliance means meeting many deadlines. Community Water operates on a regulatory calendar that includes water quality sampling, annual reports, Consumer Confidence Reports, operator certification, system inspections, ACC filings, and other required submissions.
Each task has a cost. The budget includes lab testing, reporting software, staff time, operator training, consultants, attorneys, engineering support, and communication with members and regulators. Industry groups also help the Company stay current on rule changes and utility practices.
New rules often require additional work even when the system is already performing well. Lead and copper rules, PFAS requirements, water loss reporting, and other regulatory changes can require new sampling, documentation, customer communication, technology, or treatment planning.
ACC filings also require careful preparation. Before certain rate changes, debt financing, service area changes, or major regulatory actions, Community Water must provide information and respond to review. Planning helps spread these costs and reduces last-minute pressure.
For members, the takeaway is straightforward: some rate revenue supports compliance. That work keeps the system licensed, water quality monitored, and the utility accountable. Many compliance tasks also improve operations by identifying leaks, documenting assets, and improving planning.
Serving Tomorrow's Members
How does new development affect existing members? Learn how Community Water evaluates water supply, infrastructure capacity, costs, engineering requirements, and regulations before extending service to future homes and businesses. Read more...
Community Water has limited remaining growth areas within its current service area. As the CC&N service area develops, the Company coordinates with developers, local governments, engineers, and regulators to review water service needs.
Each new development requires engineering review. Community Water evaluates production capacity, distribution capacity, storage, pressure zones, fire flow, water supply, and regulatory requirements. Growth should not place unfair costs on current members.
Developers are generally responsible for the upfront cost of extensions and facilities needed to serve new development, subject to tariffs, agreements, and regulatory requirements. When growth is properly planned and funded, additional members can help spread fixed costs over a broader base. When growth is not properly planned, it can strain capacity and increase costs.
Community Water uses the Water System Improvement Plan and other planning tools to determine whether existing wells, mains, reservoirs, and pressure zones can support new service. Any growth must also meet state-assured water-supply requirements, where applicable.
Serving tomorrow’s members requires balance. Community Water must support reasonable service requests while protecting current members, water supply, infrastructure capacity, and financial stability.
Drought, Climate, and Water Security
Drought, extreme heat, storms, power outages, and Colorado River uncertainty all influence water planning. See how wells, backup power, emergency preparation, conservation, and diversified supplies help Community Water prepare for changing conditions. Read more...
Weather patterns are becoming harder to rely on. Community Water plans for drought, extreme heat, heavy storms, power outages, and uncertainty around the Colorado River by maintaining wells, backup power, emergency plans, and long-term supply projects.
Drought planning starts with the daily system. Community Water maintains wells, treatment systems, reservoirs, booster stations, generators, monitoring systems, and emergency response procedures. The Company also maintains mutual aid relationships with neighboring utilities and regional partners.
Long-term water security also depends on diversifying water supplies. Community Water’s Central Arizona Project allocation and Project Renews provide tools for recharge and water supply planning. These tools support resilience, but they do not remove the need to manage local groundwater carefully.
Members can help by using water efficiently, fixing leaks, planning for heat and heavy rain, and responding to conservation requests when needed. The Company’s strategy is to reduce unnecessary waste, protect local groundwater, maintain reliable infrastructure, and adapt operations as conditions change.
Working with Local Government and Neighbors
Water challenges rarely stop at service-area boundaries. Learn how Community Water works with governments, regulators, neighboring utilities, community organizations, and regional partners on emergency preparedness, groundwater, development, and long-term water planning. Read more...
Community Water does not operate alone. The Company coordinates with local governments, regulators, neighboring utilities, community organizations, and regional water partners to serve the communities of Green Valley and Sahuarita.
Coordination with Pima County and local jurisdictions helps align water infrastructure with development, roads, fire flow needs, emergency access, and community planning. Community Water also shares information with research and water-planning organizations, thereby supporting a better understanding of the Upper Santa Cruz basin.
The Company works with neighboring water systems and regional partners on issues such as emergency preparedness, water supply, groundwater monitoring, and mutual aid. These relationships help utilities respond faster during outages, storms, power failures, or other emergencies. Community Water also participates in water policy discussions and community presentations. These efforts help ensure member interests are considered in regional planning, Colorado River discussions, groundwater management, and infrastructure funding opportunities.
Partnerships do not replace local responsibility. Community Water remains responsible for serving its members, maintaining its system, and making decisions that support reliable water delivery.
Looking Ahead: Our Strategic Vision
What will Community Water need tomorrow? Explore the priorities guiding our future—from water supply and infrastructure to financial stability, technology, workforce development, emergency preparedness, and strong relationships with the community. Read more...
Community Water’s strategic plan focuses on reliable water delivery, sustainable supply, stable finances, results and retention, and strong stakeholder relationships. These priorities guide daily work and long-term decisions.
Over the next planning cycle, Community Water will continue work on long-term supply, well capacity, infrastructure replacement, treatment reliability, technology, emergency preparedness, and financial planning. The Company will also continue to evaluate grants, state financing, and other funding tools where they help stretch member dollars.
Community Water has worked to keep rates stable and affordable. As the system ages and replacement costs rise, rate planning must be predictable and tied to long-term infrastructure needs. Planned investment helps reduce the risk of larger emergency costs later. Training and succession planning are also priorities. Community Water must retain skilled employees, document procedures, train new staff, and prepare leaders for increasingly complex utility operations.
The strategic vision also includes technology and resilience. Community Water will continue to monitor emerging contaminants, evaluate water technologies, improve data systems, and practice emergency response. The goal is a secure, efficient, and community-centered water utility.
Members can expect Community Water to keep adapting as regulations, costs, infrastructure needs, and water supply conditions change. The Company’s responsibility is to deliver reliable water today while preparing for our members' water supply needs.