45-401. Declaration of policy
A. The legislature finds that the people of Arizona are dependent in whole or in
part upon groundwater basins for their water supply and that in many basins and
sub-basins withdrawal of groundwater is greatly in excess of the safe annual yield and
that this is threatening to destroy the economy of certain areas of this state and is
threatening to do substantial injury to the general economy and welfare of this state and
its citizens. The legislature further finds that it is in the best interest of the
general economy and welfare of this state and its citizens that the legislature evoke its
police power to prescribe which uses of groundwater are most beneficial and economically
effective.
B. It is therefore declared to be the public policy of this state that in the
interest of protecting and stabilizing the general economy and welfare of this state and
its citizens it is necessary to conserve, protect and allocate the use of groundwater
resources of the state and to provide a framework for the comprehensive management and
regulation of the withdrawal, transportation, use, conservation and conveyance of rights
to use the groundwater in this state.
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