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Report on Arizona’s Groundwater Management Framework and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

This report analyzes the State of Arizona’s multi-faceted groundwater management framework. The state employs a localized, tool-based approach that currently covers over 90 percent of its population. This system is fundamentally aligned with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). The existing structure, established primarily by the 1980 Groundwater Management Act, provides a robust foundation for sustainable water resource management, obviating the need for new sweeping frameworks. The focus for future action should be on refining and enhancing these established tools to further advance sustainability objectives.

Core Groundwater Management Framework: A Contribution to SDG 6

Arizona’s water management strategy is not a monolithic, statewide mandate but a collection of targeted tools. This approach allows for tailored solutions that address specific hydrological and demographic realities, directly supporting the implementation of SDG 6.5 (Integrated Water Resources Management). The three primary instruments of this framework are:

1. Active Management Areas (AMAs)
2. Irrigation Non-Expansion Areas (INAs)
3. Mandatory Adequacy Jurisdictions

Detailed Analysis of Management Tools and SDG Linkages

Active Management Areas (AMAs)

AMAs represent the most comprehensive level of management, covering approximately 85 percent of Arizona’s population in key urban and agricultural centers. Their regulations are critical for achieving multiple sustainability targets.

• Water Conservation and Efficiency (SDG 6.4, SDG 12.2): AMAs impose progressively stricter conservation standards on municipal and industrial users and set efficiency requirements for agriculture.
• Sustainable Urbanization (SDG 11): A core tenet of AMAs is the requirement for new residential subdivisions to demonstrate a 100-year assured water supply, ensuring long-term viability and resilience for communities.
• Resource Management (SDG 6.5): AMAs regulate groundwater pumping and establish long-term goals, such as “safe yield,” to balance water withdrawal with replenishment.

Irrigation Non-Expansion Areas (INAs)

INAs are designed to protect groundwater supplies primarily by controlling agricultural water use, which directly impacts food production systems and water security.

• Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4): By prohibiting the conversion of new land for agricultural production, INAs cap the growth of water-intensive farming in vulnerable basins.
• Water Use Monitoring (SDG 6): These areas mandate that existing farms meter and report their annual water usage to the state, providing crucial data for sustainable resource planning.

Mandatory Adequacy Program

This tool empowers local governments outside of AMAs to manage residential growth sustainably, extending water security measures to developing rural and peri-urban areas.

• Sustainable Communities (SDG 11.3): By allowing counties, cities, and towns to adopt a 100-year water supply requirement for new housing, this program promotes responsible and sustainable development patterns.
• Local Governance and Partnerships (SDG 17): The voluntary nature of this program encourages local-level decision-making and partnerships between communities and developers to ensure water security.

Governance and Path Forward for Enhanced Sustainability

A Framework Built on Localized Action

The strength of Arizona’s system lies in its adaptability. The combination of AMAs, INAs, Mandatory Adequacy rules, and other measures like court decrees creates a “patchwork” that aligns solutions with local needs. This model supports community-driven sustainability, as evidenced by recent actions:

• Douglas Basin residents voted to convert their INA into a full AMA (2022).
• Kingman residents petitioned for the creation of an INA in Hualapai Valley (2022).
• An AMA was established in the Willcox Basin (2024).

These examples demonstrate that the existing tools are viable and responsive, allowing communities to actively participate in securing their water future, a key principle of SDG 6 and SDG 11.

Improving Existing Tools for Future Challenges

Consensus exists that Arizona possesses the necessary tools for effective groundwater management. Legislative efforts in 2025 aimed to improve these instruments by enhancing agricultural efficiency, increasing local control in AMAs, and adding flexibility to the Mandatory Adequacy program. While these specific bills were vetoed, the underlying goal remains pertinent. The strategic focus should be on refining and strengthening the current framework, particularly in the populated areas where over 90 percent of Arizonans reside, to more effectively meet and exceed the targets set by the Sustainable Development Goals.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The entire article is centered on water management, which is the core of SDG 6. It discusses Arizona’s comprehensive framework for managing groundwater resources to ensure their availability and sustainable use. The text details various legal and administrative tools like the Groundwater Management Act, Active Management Areas (AMAs), and Irrigation Non-Expansion Areas (INAs), all aimed at protecting water supplies for the state’s population.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article connects water management directly to urban and residential development. It highlights that “more than 90 percent of Arizonans already live under some form of groundwater management” and discusses the “Mandatory Adequacy” program, which requires housing developers to “demonstrate a 100-year water supply before approving new residential subdivisions.” This policy directly addresses the challenge of sustainable urbanization by ensuring that growth is supported by adequate water resources.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The article addresses the consumption of water by various sectors, including agriculture, industry, and municipalities. It mentions policies that “impose increasingly stricter conservation standards on municipal and industrial water users and efficiency requirements for farmers.” By regulating water use and promoting efficiency, these measures align with the goal of ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns for a critical natural resource.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  While not explicitly mentioned, sustainable groundwater management is fundamental to protecting terrestrial ecosystems. The article’s focus on achieving “safe yield” within AMAs—a state where groundwater pumping does not exceed natural and artificial replenishment—is crucial for preventing land subsidence and protecting habitats that depend on stable groundwater levels. The management of surface water, such as setting caps on water pulled from the Gila River, also directly contributes to the health of inland freshwater ecosystems.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.

   The article provides several examples of efforts to meet this target. The AMAs “impose increasingly stricter conservation standards on municipal and industrial water users and efficiency requirements for farmers.” Furthermore, the establishment of INAs, which “prevent new land from being brought into agricultural production,” and court decrees that set “caps on the amount of water that can be pulled from the Gila River” are direct measures to ensure sustainable withdrawals and manage water use efficiently.

2. Target 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.

   The article describes Arizona’s water management system as a “patchwork” of different tools (AMAs, INAs, Mandatory Adequacy) applied at various regional and local levels. This approach, which allows “solutions to match local realities,” is a clear example of implementing integrated water resources management. The article details how different counties and basins have adopted different management tools based on their specific hydrological conditions and community needs, demonstrating management at multiple levels.

3. Target 6.b: Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management.

   The article emphasizes the role of local communities in water governance. It states, “If residents want stronger groundwater management, they can petition the Department of Water Resources to form an AMA or INA. If they want to manage growth, they can ask their county supervisors to adopt the Mandatory Adequacy program.” The examples of Douglas Basin residents voting to create an AMA and Kingman residents petitioning for an INA demonstrate active local participation in water management decisions.

4. Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.

   The “Mandatory Adequacy” program is a direct policy instrument for sustainable urban planning. By requiring developers to “demonstrate a 100-year assured water supply before approving new residential subdivisions,” the state links housing growth directly to the long-term availability of water. This ensures that urbanization does not outstrip the capacity of local water resources, a key component of sustainable settlement planning.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. Implied Indicator for Target 6.4 (Efficiency and Water Stress):

   The article implies several metrics that could be used as indicators. The “efficiency requirements for farmers” and “stricter conservation standards on municipal and industrial water users” suggest that progress could be measured by tracking changes in water consumption per capita (for municipal use) or per unit of economic output (for industrial and agricultural use). The management goal of “safe yield” in AMAs is a direct indicator of water stress, measuring whether groundwater withdrawals are in balance with replenishment.

2. Implied Indicator for Target 6.5 (Integrated Water Resources Management):

   The degree of implementation of integrated water resources management can be measured by the proportion of the population covered by such plans. The article provides a direct indicator by stating, “over 90 percent of Arizonans live under some form of water management: inside an AMA, an INA, within a county or city that has voluntarily adopted the Mandatory Adequacy requirement, or some combination of these.” This percentage serves as a clear metric for the extent of integrated management.

3. Implied Indicator for Target 6.b (Local Participation):

   The article suggests that the number of local initiatives to establish or modify water management areas can serve as an indicator of community participation. It mentions specific instances, such as “Douglas Basin residents voted to convert their INA to a full AMA” in 2022 and “Kingman residents petitioned the Department for an INA.” Tracking the number of such petitions, votes, and adoptions by local governments would measure the level of local engagement in water management.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nfib.com