Kris Mayes announces sweeping water conservation rules for Arizona, limiting new groundwater use in rural areas effective immediately.
PHOENIX, AZ – Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has issued a landmark directive imposing immediate restrictions on new groundwater pumping in several rural basins across the state. Formally announced at a press conference in Phoenix, the ruling targets areas where aquifer levels have declined by more than 50 feet over the past decade. Effective today, March 6, 2025, the order prohibits any new permits for large-scale agricultural and commercial developments in these basins. Mayes cited the urgent need to prevent ecological collapse and ensure long-term water security for residents, stating the decision was based on a six-month geological survey. The directive affects an estimated 2,000 square miles of farmland and has triggered sharp backlash from grower associations, who argue it will devastate local economies. Enforcement will be carried out by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, with violators facing fines of up to $10,000 per day.