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Frequently Asked Questions
General questions
Determining if a water system is a community water system
Annual Water Use Report questions
System Water Plan questions
View all questions
General questions
1. What is an Annual Water Use Report and a System Water Plan and who is required to submit them?
2. Why are community water systems now required to submit Annual Water Use Reports and System Water Plans?
3. Are these new requirements intended to regulate or restrict my water use?
4. Are there guidance documents available to help me prepare my System Water Plan?
5. Are there forms I can fill out to meet ADWR’s requirements?
6. What are the due dates for the Annual Water Use Reports and System Water Plans?
7. How do I determine whether my system is a large or small community water system?
8. My water system is very small. Do I have to meet the same requirements as large systems?
9. What happens if I do not submit the Annual Water Use Report or System Water Plan?
10. Will I hear back from ADWR about whether or not my submittals were adequate?
11. How do I know if ADWR has the correct contact information for my water system so that I receive the necessary letters and notifications?
12. Why should I encourage my customers to conserve water when it may cause my business to lose money?
13. How can I encourage my customers to conserve water, given that conservation is a voluntary practice?
14. Who do I contact at ADWR for questions about the new requirements?
Determining if a water system is a community water system
15. How do I know if my water system is a community water system?
16. What if I have permanent connections, but not the same people using them year-round? Is my water system a community water system? (Example – a mobile home park where customers may stay for a few months out of the year.)
17. What if my water system serves a mix of year-round residents and seasonal or transient residents? Is this a community water system?
18. What if I served 25 or more year-round residents last year but did not serve that many during the current year? Do I still need to meet the requirements?
Annual Water Use Report questions
19. What is the due date for the Annual Water Use Report?
20. Is there a guidance document available to assist me in reporting my annual water use data?
21. Is there a form I can use to report my annual water use, or can I enter the data on the Internet?
22. I already submit an annual report to the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). Do I need to submit a separate report to ADWR?
23. I already submit an annual report to ADWR because I am within an Active Management Area (AMA). Do I need to submit a separate report to the Statewide Drought Program?
24. I already submit an annual report to ADWR because I have an Adequate Water Supply designation. Do I need to submit a separate report to the Statewide Drought Program?
System Water Plan questions
25. What is the due date for the System Water Plan?
26. Is there a guidance document to help me develop my System Water Plan?
27. Is there a form available for the System Water Plan?
28. Are there any existing System Water Plans that I can use as a resource for developing my own plan?
29. If I am submitting a joint System Water Plan with another system in my town, do I need to notify ADWR ahead of time?
Water Supply Plan
30. I have an Assured Water Supply designation. Do I still need to submit a Water Supply Plan?
31. I have an Adequate Water Supply Designation. Do I need to submit a Water Supply Plan?
32. I have already submitted maps of my system and service area to ADWR. Do I need to submit another copy as part of the Water Supply Plan?
Drought Preparedness Plan
33. I am already required to have an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), and it includes planning for water shortages. Will this meet the Drought Preparedness Plan requirements of the System Water Plan?
34. I have a curtailment tariff on file with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). Can I use this as part of my Drought Preparedness Plan?
Water Conservation Plan
35. I have already implemented conservation measures because I am a large municipal provider in an Active Management Area (AMA). Do I still need to submit the Water Conservation Plan?
General Questions
1. What is an Annual Water Use Report and a System Water Plan and who is required to submit them?
Community water systems are required to submit to ADWR an Annual Water Use Report and System Water Plan:
- The Annual Water Use Report will be submitted each year and include such information as water pumped or diverted, water received from other suppliers, water delivered to customers, and effluent used or received.
- The System Water Plan will be updated and submitted every five years and will consist of three components:
- Water Supply Plan – describes the service area, transmission facilities, monthly system production data, historic demand for the past five years, and projected demands for the next five, 10 and 20 years.
- Drought Preparedness Plan – includes drought and emergency response strategies, a plan of action to respond to water shortage conditions, and provisions to educate and inform the public.
- Water Conservation Plan – addresses measures to control lost and unaccounted for water, considers water rate structures that encourage efficient use of water, and plans for public information and education programs on water conservation.
2. Why are community water systems now required to submit Annual Water Use Reports and System Water Plans?
These requirements were established by Arizona House Bill 2277 passed by the Arizona legislature in 2005 and then established in Arizona Revised Statutes Title 45, Chapter 1, Article 14. The requirements were part of a larger set of recommendations made by Governor Napolitano’s Drought Task Force. The reports and plans are intended to reduce community water systems’ vulnerability to drought and ensure that water providers are prepared to respond to drought or water shortage conditions. The information submitted by the water systems will also allow the State to provide regional assistance for drought planning, mitigation and response.
3. Are these new requirements intended to regulate or restrict my water use?
No, these requirements are intended to serve as an information-gathering tool for the State. As drought conditions have worsened over the past several years, the State has been asked to provide drought planning assistance. However, the State had no means for gathering information to begin the planning process. Thus, the information submitted under these new requirements will enable the State to provide regional assistance for drought planning, mitigation and response.
4. Are there guidance documents available to help me prepare my Annual Reports and System Water Plans?
There is a fact sheet on drought and conservation planning on our community water system web page.
5. Are there forms I can fill out to meet ADWR’s requirements?
Yes, there are forms for both the Annual Water Use Report (see #21 below) and the System Water Plan (see #27 below).
6. What are the due dates for the Annual Water Use Reports and System Water Plans?
Some of the due dates are dependent upon the size of the water system and whether or not a joint plan is being submitted:
| |
Annual Water Use Report |
System Water Plan |
Small Water Systems
(< 1,850 people) |
Every year by June 1, beginning in 2007 |
Jan. 1, 2008*
updates due prior to Jan. 1 of 2013, 2018, 2023, etc. |
Large Water Systems
(>1,850 people) |
Every year by June 1, beginning in 2007 |
Jan. 1, 2007
updates due prior to Jan. 1 of 2012, 2017, 2022, etc.
or
Jan. 1, 2008 if submitting a joint plan (see #29 below) |
*Small systems may request an extension beyond the Jan. 1, 2008 due date. Requests must be received by ADWR at least 90 days prior (Oct. 3, 2007). Extensions cannot be requested for the updates due every five years.
7. How do I determine whether my system is a large or small community water system?
ADWR relies on water system population numbers on record with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. If you're not sure, please contact us to find out what our records show.
8. My water system is very small. Do I have to meet the same requirements as large systems?
The basic requirements for large and small systems are the same, with the exception of the System Water Plan due dates. Small systems (those serving 1,850 people or fewer) have one year longer than large systems to prepare their plans. Small systems must submit the plans by January 1, 2008, or may submit a request for an extension at least 90 days prior to this date (Oct. 3, 2007). (Note that the first Annual Water Use Report is due in June of 2007 for all systems.)
9. What happens if I do not submit the Annual Water Use Report or System Water Plan?
- Annual Water Use Report – If you do not file the report by June 1st of each year, ADWR will send you a noncompliance letter notifying you that you have 60 days to file the report. If the report is not filed after 60 days, ADWR must provide notice of noncompliance to the governing bodies of the cities, towns and counties located in your service area.
- System Water Plan – If you do not submit your plan by the due date, ADWR will send you a noncompliance letter notifying you that you have 120 days to submit the plan. If the plan is not received by the end of this period, ADWR must provide notice of noncompliance to the governing bodies of the cities, towns and counties located in your service area.
10. Will I hear back from ADWR about whether or not my submittals were adequate?
- Annual Water Use Report – ADWR will contact you if the report is not received (see #9 above).
- System Water Plan – ADWR will be reviewing the plans and notifying you whether or not your plan meets the requirements.
- If the plan complies, ADWR will provide written notice of compliance.
- If the plan does not comply, ADWR will send you a noncompliance letter notifying you that you have 120 days to submit a revised plan. If a revised plan is not received by the end of this period, or still does not meet the requirements, ADWR must provide notice of non-compliance to the governing bodies in your service area.
11. How do I know if ADWR has the correct contact information for my water system so that I receive the necessary letters and notifications?
If you have not yet received correspondence on the new requirements, or if the correspondence did not go to the correct person, please contact the Statewide Drought Program using the contact information under #14 below. Please note that it is your responsibility to notify ADWR of any changes to your contact information.
12. Why should I encourage my customers to conserve water when it may cause my business to lose money?
ADWR recognizes that some water providers rely on water use to sustain their business and cover costs. However, conservation does not necessarily lead to lost revenue. For example, one way to reduce drought vulnerability and encourage customers to conserve is to implement rate structures that are higher for excessive use or during certain seasons.
Also bear in mind the long-term costs that may result as water supply dwindles. Providers may have to deepen wells, construct new storage facilities, or drill new wells. Water conservation is an excellent way to reduce drought vulnerability and guard against these large expenditures on new infrastructure. In short, reducing vulnerability to drought now can be less expensive than dealing with water shortages later.
13. How can I encourage my customers to conserve water, given that conservation is a voluntary practice?
It is true that water conservation is a voluntary practice in most cases. It is up to each water system to be creative and consider what might work for its customers. The most successful conservation programs are those that are tailored to the needs and lifestyles of the customers who are being asked to conserve. You might want to consider surveying your customers to help you design a conservation program. Do not rely simply on penalizing bad practices (i.e. excessive use rates); remember also to reward good conservation practices (i.e. rebate programs for low water use technology). Customers will participate if they can see a clear and direct benefit for themselves.
Although you may not reach 100% of your customers with your efforts, every little bit will help. Even if you have only a few people willing to change their habits, you may be able to use their water savings as an example to others and slowly bring about changes.
14. Who do I contact at ADWR for questions about the new requirements?
Melanie Ford, Drought Planner
e-mail: mlford@azwater.gov
phone: (602) 771-8442
mail: 3550 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Determining if a water system is a community water system
15. How do I know if my water system is a community water system?
A community water system is one that serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents of the area served, or that regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. See #16 through #18 below for more details.
16. What if I have permanent connections, but not the same people using them year-round? Is my water system a community water system? (Example – a mobile home park where customers may stay for a few months out of the year.)
Water providers with no year-round residents do not need to meet the new requirements. If you have a mix of year-round residents and transient customers, see #17 below. Please note that ADWR relies on the determination made by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) regarding the classification of water systems. You may contact ADWR or ADEQ to find out the status of your system.
17. What if my water system serves a mix of year-round residents and seasonal or transient residents? Is this a community water system?
Only your year-round residents should be counted to determine whether or not your system is a community system. Please contact ADWR or ADEQ to find out how your system is classified.
18.
What if I served 25 or more year-round residents last year but did not serve that many during the current year? Do I still need to meet the requirements?
As indicated in the definition of a community water system (see #15), a water system's status is determined by the number of year-round residents regularly served (or the number of service connections). If your system's population is at or near the minimum number of residents necessary to qualify as a community water system, consider carefully the number of residents regularly served. Because this number can vary from year to year, you should examine more than one year to determine whether the number of residents regularly served is at or above 25 people.
If you are still uncertain as to whether you need to meet the requirements, ADWR recommends that you err on the side of caution when determining the number of residents regularly served and make protection of public health the highest priority. Public health will be best served if you submit annual reports and have the proper plans in place to reduce your system's vulnerability to drought. Please contact ADWR or ADEQ to determine how your system is classified.
Annual Water Use Report questions
19. What is the due date for the Annual Water Use Report?
The Annual Water Use Reports are due on June 1st of every year, beginning in 2007. Each report will include the previous year’s data (the 2007 submittal will report 2006 water use information).
20. Is there a guidance document available to assist me in reporting my annual water use information?
No, all the necessary information and instructions will be included with the annual water use report forms.
21. Is there a form I can use to report my annual water use, or can I enter the data on the internet?
Yes, you will have both options:
- Web reporting tool - See our community water system page for a link to the tool.
- Form - For those systems that do not wish to use the web reporting option, ADWR will be providing a paper form to be filled out and mailed back to the Department.
22. I already submit an annual report to the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). Do I need to submit a separate report to ADWR?
Because there is minimal overlap between the reports, you will need to submit a separate report to both agencies.
23. I already submit an annual report to ADWR because I am within an Active Management Area (AMA). Do I need to submit a separate report to the Statewide Drought Program?
No, systems in an Active Management Area already submitting an annual report to ADWR are exempted in the statute from submitting the Annual Water Use Report to the Statewide Drought Program (note you are still required to submit the System Water Plan).
24. I already submit an annual report to ADWR because I have an Adequate Water Supply designation. Do I need to submit a separate report to the Statewide Drought Program?
Yes, systems with an Adequate Water Supply designation must still submit an Annual Water Use Report to the Statewide Drought Program. The report you are currently submitting does not include sufficient information to meet the new reporting requirements.
System Water Plan questions
25. What is the due date for the System Water Plan?
The due date depends upon whether your water system is large or small (see criteria below), and whether you are submitting a joint plan with another water system:
| |
System Water Plan Due Dates |
Small Water Systems
(< 1,850 people) |
Jan. 1, 2008*
updates due prior to Jan. 1 of 2013, 2018, 2023, etc. |
Large Water Systems
(>1,850 people) |
Jan. 1, 2007
updates due prior to Jan. 1 of 2012, 2017, 2022, etc.
or
Jan. 1, 2008 if submitting a joint plan (see #29 below) |
*Small systems may request an extension beyond the Jan. 1, 2008 due date. Requests must be received by ADWR at least 90 days prior (Oct. 3, 2007). Extensions cannot be requested for the updates due every five years.
26. Is there a guidance document to help me develop my System Water Plan?
There is a fact sheet on drought and conservation planning on our community water system web page.
27. Is there a form available for the System Water Plan?
Yes, ADWR recommends that you use the System Water Plan form. This form was intended to assist smaller systems in preparing their plans, but can be used by larger systems as well.
28. Are there any existing System Water Plans that I can use as a resource for developing my own plan?
ADWR has posted several plans submitted by larger systems in 2007 to provide some ideas and examples. Additionally, many larger cities and towns in Arizona do have some type of drought management plan in place. You may want to check city websites or contact towns in your area for ideas for your own plan.
ADWR encourages information and idea sharing, especially among systems in the same area. A regional approach to drought planning and management may allow systems to pool resources and coordinate not only planning activities, but drought mitigation and response actions as well.
29. If I am submitting a joint System Water Plan with another system in my town, do I need to notify ADWR ahead of time since it may change my due date?
- If you are a large community water system (serving more than 1,850 people) and will be submitting a joint plan, your due date becomes January 1, 2008, instead of 2007. There is no requirement in statute that you notify ADWR that you will be submitting a joint plan; however, a notification will be the only means for the Department to determine that your due date is 2008 rather than 2007. Therefore, to avoid an unnecessary non-compliance letter, ADWR requests that you provide notification that you are preparing a joint plan and which systems it will include (see contact information under #14). Only one letter is necessary. If you choose not to notify ADWR prior to the 2007 due date and you receive a non-compliance letter, you will need to respond to ADWR at that time and inform us that you are submitting a joint plan. Contact information will be provided with the letter.
- If you are a small community water system serving 1,850 people or less, your due date is January 2008 regardless of whether or not you are submitting a joint plan. If you are submitting a joint plan, you will simply need to clearly indicate on your submittal to which water systems the plan applies.
Water Supply Plan questions
30. I have an Assured Water Supply designation. Do I still need to submit a Water Supply Plan?
No, you are exempt from the Water Supply Plan.
31. I have an Adequate Water Supply Designation. Do I need to submit a Water Supply Plan?
Systems with an Adequate Water Supply Designation are not automatically exempt from the Water Supply Plan. However, the statute does allow systems to request exemptions if they believe they have already submitted all the required information to ADWR. In most cases, it is probably best to go ahead and submit the plan. The System Water Plan form should simplify the process for you.
32. I have already submitted maps of my system and service area to ADWR. Do I need to submit another copy as part of the Water Supply Plan?
If you are within an Active Management Area (AMA), the statute provides an exemption from the map requirement if the maps have already been provided to ADWR.
Drought Preparedness Plan questions
33. I am already required to have an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), and it includes planning for water shortages. Will this meet the Drought Preparedness Plan requirements of the System Water Plan?
In most cases, an EOP will probably not meet the requirements of the Drought Preparedness Plan. Remember that the purpose of the Drought Preparedness Plan is to plan for drought and reduce the vulnerability of the system, not just respond to an emergency. You are required to develop drought response stages and management measures for each of these stages, with the goal of preventing an emergency situation. You may be able to incorporate parts of your EOP into this portion of the Drought Preparedness Plan, or vice versa.
34. I have a curtailment tariff on file with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). Can I use this as part of my Drought Preparedness Plan?
Yes, a curtailment tariff is sufficient to meet one of the requirements of the Drought Preparedness Plan: 45-342(I)(3)(c) (management measures for each stage of drought). You may include it within your plan or refer to it as an attachment at the end.
Water Conservation Plan questions
35. I have already implemented conservation measures because I am a large municipal provider in an Active Management Area (AMA). Do I still have to submit the Water Conservation Plan?
No, large municipal providers in an AMA are exempt from the Water Conservation Plan portion of the System Water Plan. |
