/ Modified feb 9, 2016 7:43 a.m.

Municipalities Would Get More Water Control Under Bill

Legislation exempts cities, towns from their counties' authority to limit development.

zombie-housing-gilbert_617x347 An unfinished subdivisions in the Phoenix suburb of Gilbert
Laura Segall/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Cities and towns in rural Arizona could have fewer restrictions on how much water is needed before a subdivision comes online under a bill that passed a state Senate committee Monday.

The city of Sierra Vista lies outside where groundwater is regulated in the state. But in 2007, lawmakers passed a bill that gave counties the power, if they wanted, to require developers get a state certificate proving an adequate 100 year water supply before building.

In Sierra Vista's case, that power rests with Cochise County.

"The county has usurped our authority that you have given us," Sierra Vista Mayor Rick Mueller told lawmakers. "We are asking that you would relook that."

The Senate committee agreed and passed the bill on.

Democratic Sen. Lynne Pancrazi of Yuma argued against the legislation, saying it contradicts the state's policy of preserving aquifers.

"If anything needs to be regulated from the state down, I think it needs to be water, and with that I vote no," Pancrazi said.

One Sierra Vista development that would benefit from the law change is being challenged in court by residents who say allowing it would dry up the San Pedro River.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona