Governor Water Augmentation Council
Governor Water Augmentation Council
Governor's Water Augmentation Council
The second track of the Arizona Water Initiative involved the creation of a Governor’s Water Augmentation Council that investigated long-term water augmentation strategies, additional water conservation opportunities, funding and infrastructure needs to help secure water supplies for Arizona’s future. The role of the "GWAC" was expanded on January 31, 2019, bya new executive order by Governor Ducey. The new Council, which would include many of the original panel's members, would be charged further with investigating innovative methods of expanding the state's water resources, as well as targeting conservation efforts.
In the fall of 2016, four committees were created by Council Chairman, Tom Buschatzke, that would specialize in fields that either directly or indirectly affect water augmentation opportunities in Arizona. These fields include desalination, finance, recycled water, and long-term water augmentation. Each of the committees are chaired by Council members who volunteered for the position, and the committee members comprised of Council members, representatives of Council members, or individuals selected by the Committee Chair. They typically hold meetings hold meetings every two months, they are open to the public, and the presentations and summaries for each meeting can be found below.
Governor's Water Augmentation Council
A role of the Council is to provide direction to the Director of ADWR, upon the Director’s request, on any issues that the Director determines may impact water management. The GWAC advocates for continued implementation of water conservation measures in all water use sectors throughout the state and makes additional recommendations regarding actions to be taken by ADWR with respect to conservation. Among other things, the GWAC seeks to identify augmentation opportunities as a means to resolve water resource conflicts or improve water supply availability to ensure legal certainty for water users and investors.
Past Committee Meetings
Desalination Committee
The Desalination Committee will continue to evaluate areas for feasibility of a desalination project, and then collaborate with local and regional stakeholders within the identified project area. It will discuss funding opportunities with the Finance Committee and secure land and water contracts with the approval of Arizona Department of Water Resources.
Past Committee Meetings
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee has been tasked with creating a timeline for establishing funding mechanisms for future water augmentation projects.
Past Committee Meetings
Long Term Water Augmentation Committee
The Long-Term Water Augmentation Committee will consider projected planning areas with the greatest imbalances to the least utilizing heat maps. This will be followed by a budget proposal and overseeing the Request-for-Proposal process until its completion. Once a draft product is received, the committee will hold local area meetings to review the proposed portfolio before final completion.
Past Committee Meetings
Recycled Water Committee
The Recycled Water Committee will recommend that the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality end the prohibition on direct potable reuse. It also recommends reevaluating the 50% accrual of credits for storage of effluent in managed recharge facilities.
Past Committee Meetings
Annual Reports
Pursuant to Executive Order 2019-02, the first Annual Report of the Council will be due in 2020.