rural groundwater management areas; establishment

Arizona's HB 2990 requires counties to verify adequate water supply before approving new subdivisions in designated rural groundwater management areas. Developers must either provide a water resources director's adequacy report or secure a written commitment from a city, town, or private water provider with an approved water supply. The bill allows limited exemptions for subdivisions relying on water transported by vehicle or train, but only if counties confirm no feasible alternatives exist and transportation meets safety conditions. Counties must document approval conditions on subdivision plats and report exemptions to state water and environmental agencies. This directly affects new residential developments in rural Arizona areas where groundwater management is prioritized.