what the validity of ADWR conclusions

County supervisors OK water adequacy rule: First in state to require 100-year supply of water for subdivisions
By Shar Porier/Wick Communications
Published: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 6:48 PM CDT
BISBEE - From now on, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors can turn down developers wanting to build subdivisions if proof of 100-year water adequacy cannot be obtained. – EXCERPTED -With a unanimous vote during last Tuesday's meeting, the supervisors approved what is a first in the state - the amendment to the zoning regulations that stipulates water availability within any subdivision has to meet Arizona Department of Water Resources criteria for 100-year adequacy. Any proposed subdivision that cannot prove water adequacy will be denied.So what is water adequacy for the county as defined by ADWR?As explained by Tom Whitmer, ADWR regional water resources planning section manager, "For a proposed subdivision that will be receiving water from a water provider or a central system, the definition currently states that if over the course of 100 years the projected demand from that subdivision will not cause the ground water table to decline below 1,200 feet from the surface of the ground, then it is deemed to have an adequate water supply for 100 years. If the proposed subdivision is going to be a dry lot subdivision, one that allows private wells on each lot, then the combined projected water use of that subdivision needs to demonstrate that over the course of 100 years, the groundwater table will not decline below 400 feet from the surface."


County supervisors OK water adequacy rule: First in state to require 100-year supply of water for subdivisions
By Shar Porier/Wick Communications
Published: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 6:48 PM CDT
BISBEE - From now on, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors can turn down developers wanting to build subdivisions if proof of 100-year water adequacy cannot be obtained. – EXCERPTED -With a unanimous vote during last Tuesday's meeting, the supervisors approved what is a first in the state - the amendment to the zoning regulations that stipulates water availability within any subdivision has to meet Arizona Department of Water Resources criteria for 100-year adequacy. Any proposed subdivision that cannot prove water adequacy will be denied.So what is water adequacy for the county as defined by ADWR?As explained by Tom Whitmer, ADWR regional water resources planning section manager, "For a proposed subdivision that will be receiving water from a water provider or a central system, the definition currently states that if over the course of 100 years the projected demand from that subdivision will not cause the ground water table to decline below 1,200 feet from the surface of the ground, then it is deemed to have an adequate water supply for 100 years. If the proposed subdivision is going to be a dry lot subdivision, one that allows private wells on each lot, then the combined projected water use of that subdivision needs to demonstrate that over the course of 100 years, the groundwater table will not decline below 400 feet from the surface."First, allow me to stand and cheer the folks in Cochise County for making the time to attend and make their voices heard respecting their county instituting the first requirement for a 100 year supply of water for subdivisions.

My questions arise about our collective perception on the honesty of the data upon which the current ADWR 100 year assured water supply is actually defined, promulgated and implemented…?

One, the ADWR 100 year assured water supply is based on an arbitrarily chosen water level of 1,200 ft below the surface of the ground. I want ADWR to explain to us in simple terms where this magic 1,200 ft level came from and upon what “science” was this conclusion based…?

Secondly, the ADWR 100 year assured water supply rule does not address that fact that in many, though certainly not all, circumstances “we” are all putting our straw into the one “same” container of water. “We” have not demanded those drawing water from any of our aquifers keep and provide honest records of water removal over a period of time and the level at which that water is being pumped. Therefore, what’s the rationale for the 1,200 ft level…?

Thirdly, what “science” has ADWR relied upon to quantify the total amount of water available in those aquifers “we” are currently tapping for water…?

As you will note, my questions only obliquely address topics respecting quantity of water. The issues surrounding the SAFETY of our water are not even remotely broached and though, I believe, very worthy points for discussion are quite possibly not issues of concern to ADWR, whose legal charge is, quantity of water.

So, Governor Napolitano and Director Guenther of ADWR please answer these three questions and from there “we” can formulate other appropriate questions which “we” feel deserve your honest responses…?

“We” sincerely look forward to hearing from you at your earliest opportunity.