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ADWR Dictionary

ADWR Dictionary

ADWR Dictionary

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Abandoned tailings impoundment

Abandoned tailings impoundment means a tailings impoundment that the owner/operator of a metal mining facility does not plan to use for additional disposal of tailings.

Acre-foot (AF)

The amount of water it takes to cover one acre of land to the depth of one foot, approximately 325,851 gallons

Active management area (AMA)

A geographic area that has been designated pursuant to A.R.S.§ 45-411 as requiring active management of groundwater or, in the case of the Santa Cruz AMA, active management of any water, other than stored water, withdrawn from a well. Subsequent active management areas may be designated through local initiative or by the Director of ADWR

Adjudication

see "General Adjudication"

Agricultural water use

Water applied to two or more acres of land to produce plants or parts of plants for sale for human consumption or for use as feed for livestock, range livestock or poultry.

Alluvium

A deposit of earth, sand, and other transported matter left by water flowing over land not permanently submerged; chiefly applied to the deposits formed in river valleys and deltas. 

Alternative water supply

A water source, other than groundwater, pumped within an AMA.

Annual groundwater allotment

In an AMA, the total amount of groundwater a Grandfathered Right (GFR) holder is authorized to withdraw annually

Aquifer

A geologic formation that contains sufficient saturated materials to be capable of storing water and transmitting water in useable quantities to a well

Aquifer recharge

Water added to the aquifer through seepage and infiltration

Aquifer storage

Water stored underground for future use. Also, water stored pursuant to a permit issued under A.R.S. § 45-831.01, the Underground Water Storage, Savings and Replenishment Program

Artificial recharge

Water recharged to the aquifer through recharge projects, which may be recovered in the future based on accrued recharge credits.

Assigned Irrigation Efficiency

The irrigation efficiency used to compute an irrigation water duty for the fourth management period pursuant to A.R.S. §§ 45-567 and 45-567.02. 

Assured Water Supply

A water supply that meets all of the following criteria as defined in Rules: 1. Physical, legal and continuous availability for 100 years; 2. Meets water quality standards;  3. Demonstrated financial capability to construct the delivery system and related features 4. Consistency with the AMA’s management plan; and 5. Consistency with the AMA’s management goal

Augmentation

Augmentation means supplementing the water supply of an active management area and may include the importation of water into the active management area or storage of water pursuant to laws relating to underground water storage set forth at A.R.S. § 45-801.01 et seq. 

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Arizona Department of Water Resources
1110 W Washington Street Suite 310
Phoenix, AZ 85007
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Phone: 602.771.8500 | Fax: 602.771.8689
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