Today in Arizona, rural-area developers can build new subdivisions even when the state deems the water supply inadequate.

It’s a problem that threatens Arizona’s dwindling groundwater supply, experts say, so lawmakers are considering a handful of measures to bolster the state’s water store.

Bills in both the House and Senate would allow rural cities and counties to require that developers demonstrate a 100-year water supply before building new subdivisions.

Right now, such requirements only apply within five Active Management Areas, the regions with the most severe groundwater depletion. Those include Phoenix, Tucson and Prescott, as well as Pinal and Santa Cruz counties.

State law requires new subdivisions to receive a water supply assessment from the Arizona Department of Water Resources.

But construction can continue regardless of the state’s findings.

The system is broken, said Herb Guenther, director of the state water resources department.

“It doesn’t work,” he said. “It has no meaning.”

The full House and Senate have not voted on the bills, SB1575 and HB2693.

The Senate bill requires unanimous approval by a city council or county board of supervisors to take affect — an unnecessarily difficult obstacle, said Rep. Tom O’Halleran, R-Sedona.

“The United States of America can go to war without the unanimous vote of Congress,” he said. “Our Supreme Court decides on people’s death sentences based on a majority vote not a unanimous vote.”

But the requirement for unanimous support prevents county supervisors from one area of a county from “ganging up” on another area, said Patrick Bray, a lobbyist for the Arizona Cattle Growers Association.

“If you have a unanimous vote, it’s going to put politics aside, make everyone come to the table,” Bray said.

A related bill in the House, HB2692, would create an state fund to award grants and low-interest loans for water supply development in areas with an inadequate stock.

The bills are a great first step but lack the teeth needed for effective water conservation, said Nancy Freeman, executive director of the Groundwater Awareness League, a non-profit water education group.

The water supply development fund is the needed “carrot” to win support, Freeman said. “But I’m afraid in some cases they also need a stick, and there’s no stick there.”

Legislative committees also have endorsed bills that would promote water and energy conservation in schools.

Among them, HB2494 would establish a $20 million grant fund to help school districts pay for water conservation projects in their facilities.

Meanwhile, HB2496 would allow the Arizona Department of Education to act as a go-between for schools and utility companies, allowing school districts to contract with public service providers on projects that would conserve water or energy.

Other conservation bills have not been heard in committees, including a measure to require plants that use little water in new subdivisions.

Another bill would require water-harvesting equipment on new homes larger than 2,500 square feet, which would capture storm-water runoff for landscape irrigation.

Yet another measure would call on cities to reduce water consumption by 25 percent over the next 13 years.

Such conservation programs are the cheapest way to expand the water supply, which is critical as Arizona continues to grow and new subdivisions pop up, said Guenther.

Water planners also increase supplies through reuse, particularly on large grassy fields such as golf courses and soccer fields, he added.

The most expensive method is importation through expensive projects that deliver water from far-away sources.

“So conservation is very important when you’re talking about ways to stretch existing water supplies,” Guenther said. “It gives you more water at basically the same cost.”

Water proposals Bills heard in committee

HB2494: Establishes grant fund for water conservation projects in schools

HB2496: Facilitates communication between utilities and schools for cost saving

HB2692: Creates water supply development fund for rural areas with inadequate supply

HB2693: Allows counties, cities to require adequate water supply for new developments

SB1575: Allows counties, cities to require adequate water supply for new developments

Not heard in committee

HB2534: Requires cities to reduce water usage by 25 percent by 2020.

HB2582: Requires water harvesting equipment on new homes larger than 2,500 square feet

SB1113: Requires low water use yards on new homes