Arizona Water Conservation Factsheet: Domestic Well User Water Conservation

June 22, 2026
Arizona Water Conservation Factsheets
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4 pp.
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Water Resources Research Center
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Tucson, AZ
Attachments
Domestic Well User Water Conservation (pdf)
Domestic Well User Water Conservation factsheet cover

This factsheet provides information on water conservation strategies for domestic well users. In 2020, Arizonans supplied their own domestic water from almost 85,000 groundwater wells.1 Today, analysis of the ADWR Wells55 registry demonstrates that the number in 2026 is 99,000.2 Domestic well owners are responsible for maintaining wells and ensuring that water meets safe drinking water quality standards. More than half (56%) of domestic wells are located in groundwater basins* experiencing groundwater decline, and almost half of these are located in areas where groundwater decline is more than 1 foot per year.3

Wells pump groundwater from aquifers, underground layers of rock and sediments saturated with water. Cracks and pores in the aquifer allow water to move, usually by gravity, but also by other forces. When a pump begins pulling water out of the ground, groundwater flows through the aquifer towards the pump, much like a liquid in an ice filled glass can be sucked toward a straw. A pumping well creates a cone of depression; the shape and extent of this cone depend on the rate of pumping and aquifer characteristics. Closely spaced wells can have overlapping cones of depression (see Figure 1). In this way, pumping impacts the groundwater level near the well, and multiple wells can impact groundwater levels over a broad area.

If the groundwater levels are near the bottom of the well, the pump may suck up air and grit, which may damage the pump and associated plumbing. Water conservation by pumpers in the same area can preserve water levels for everyone and mitigate changes to water quality.4 Deepening a well, replacing well-related equipment, or installing a water treatment system is much more expensive than employing conservation strategies. Continue reading.

Resources

Active Management Areas (AMAs) - Areas in which ADWR regulates groundwater use.

Cone of Depression – Shape delineating the groundwater level induced by a pumping well.

Domestic Water – Water used in and around a private residence. The legal definition of domestic water in Arizona also includes the application of water to less than two acres of land to grow plants for human consumption, livestock consumption, or for sale.

Exempt wells - wells that pump less than or equal to 35 gallons per minute and are exempt from reporting requirements with minimal water use regulation.

Groundwater Basin – The Arizona Department of Water Resources has divided the state into 51 groundwater basins and subbasins, whose boundaries are defined by hydrologic and geologic boundaries.

Irrigation Non-Expansion Areas (INAs) - 

Self-Supplied – Water that homeowners provide themselves, primarily from groundwater wells but also from surface water sources (springs, creeks, rivers, or cisterns) and hauled water.

Many free technical assistance resources and funding programs are available to support domestic well users in the state of Arizona:

Resource Links

What It Offers

Permitting, Drilling and Funding 

ADWR guide to drilling domestic water wells Detailed information on permitting requirements 
LABraryA community-based resource center funded by the ADEQ Arizona Community Science Alliance where you can “check out” scientific tools, including water quality meters and groundwater level sensors that well owners can use to find monitor the impact of .water use on their well.
Well care hotline Map for locating local contractors and groundwater testing resources
Well Trust Inc. Offers loans to middle/low income property owners without reliable access to water to drills and redevelop wells 
Water Well Wish GrantOffers loans to repair, replace, or drill a new well (up to $20,000)
USDA Rural Development LoansIndividual Water & Wastewater Grants for Arizona Colonias: up to $5,000 to abandon a well or septic system or extend service lines to a residence

At Home Water Treatment 

Drinking water treatment: reverse osmosis Detailed information on how reverse osmosis works 
NSF Certified Water Treatment DevicesInformation on alternative NSF/ANSI 53 certified water treatment methods to RO for the treatment of Fluoride (Activated Almunia (media adsorption), Anion Exchange, Distillation), Arsenic (Adsorptive media, Distillation), Nitrate (Anion exchange12, Distillation)

Water Conservation 

Water use calculator Calculate your water use and potential water saving with WaterSense appliances 
WaterSense Savings Information Recommendations from EPA’s WaterSense partners and the EPA 
Water Use it Wisely Water saving tips for indoor and outdoor water use 
Arizona Municipal Water User’s Association Information on plants suitable for the Arizona desert and xeriscaping 
Salt River Project Water Conservation expoannual water conservation expo that features smart irrigation technology at a discounted price.

Gray Water Systems 

Greywater Guidebook Comprehensive information on greywater harvesting 
Cochise County Toilet Rebate ProgramCochise County offers Offers $100 toilet rebates for residents outside of Sierra Vista 

Rainwater Harvesting 

ARCSA international Provides resources and information on rainwater and stormwater collection 
Potable rainwater collection and distribution systems in Coconino County A user’s guide to Coconino County Rainwater Harvesting for Potable Code Section P2914
City of Tucson-Water Harvesting Guidance Manual  
City of Tucson-Harvesting Rainwater and a guide to water efficient landscaping Detailed guide for capturing, diverting, and storing rainwater for landscape irrigation and other uses.
University of Arizona cooperative extension rainwater harvesting guide 

Publications 

Artiola, Janick F., Kathryn Farrell-Poe, and Jacqueline Moxley. “Arizona Know Your Water.” University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, October 2012. Topic: at home water treatment 
Carroll, Lynn, Sharon B. Megdal, Gary Hix, and Anne Gondor. Arizona’s Domestic Well Owner’s Toolkit: A User-Friendly Guide to Caring for Your Well and Improving Water Quality, May 2026Comprehensive guide that includes information on well drilling, redevelopment, water quality, and water treatment among more
Artiola, Janick F., Kristine Uhlman, and Gary Hix. Arizona Well Owner’s Guide to Water Supply, Second Edition, June 2017.Comprehensive guide that includes information on well drilling, redevelopment, water quality, and water treatment among more.

  1. Tadych, D. E., Ford, M., Colby, B. G., & Condon, L. E. Historical patterns of well drilling and groundwater depth in Arizona considering groundwater regulation and surface water access. JAWRA J. Am. Water Resour. Assoc. 60, 1193–1208 (2024). 
  2. ADWR. Arizona Department of Water Resources Wells 55 Registry [Map]. (2024). https://gisdata2016-11-18t150447874z-azwater.opendata.arcgis.com/
    *Note data included or excluded: Well type – Exempt, Water use – Domestic;  Site use – no abandoned wells, no water production, and no destroyed wells were included in the map or analysis. 
  3. Groundwater Level Changes | Arizona Department of Water Resources. https://www.azwater.gov/hydrology/field-services/groundwater-level-changes. 
  4. Mukherjee, A. et al. Arsenic and other geogenic contaminants in global groundwater. Nat. Rev. Earth Environ. 5, 312–328 (2024).
  5. ADWR. Active Management Areas and Irrigation Non-Expansion Areas [Map]. (2026). Arizona Department of Water Resources. https://www.azwater.gov/ama/active-management-area-overview
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  7. Water Use in Arizona by Sector | MAP Dashboard. https://www.mapazdashboard.arizona.edu/article/arizonas-water-use-sector. 
  8. Naseri, M. Y., Bernosky, G., Mayer, P. W. & Marston, L. T. Patterns and Predictors of Residential Indoor Water Use Across Major US Cities. Earths Future 13, (2025). 
  9. Brelsford, C. & Abbott, J. K. How smart are ‘Water Smart Landscapes’? J. Environ. Econ. Manag. 106, 102402 (2021). 
  10. Towne, D. C. & Jones, J. D. Groundwater Quality in Arizona: A 20-Year Overview of the ADEQ Ambient Groundwater Monitoring Program 1995-2015. (2015). 
  11. Dieter, C. & Maupin, M. Public Supply and Domestic Water Use in the United States, 2015. https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20171131 (2017). 
  12. Shahbazi, P., Vaezi, F., Mahvi, A. H., Naddaffi, K. & Rahmani, A. R. Nitrate removal from drinking water by point of use ion exchange. J. Res. Health Sci. 10, 91–97 (2010).