Support HB2096 to Fund Cesspool Remediation and Protect Water Quality

I am writing to urge your support for House Bill 2096, sponsored by Representative Gail Griffin, which is scheduled for consideration by the House Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee on Tuesday. This legislation would authorize the state water authority to fund counties' efforts to repair, replace, or close cesspools that threaten public health and water quality, replacing them with proper wastewater treatment systems. Cesspools represent a serious and ongoing contamination risk to Arizona's groundwater. Unlike modern septic systems or municipal wastewater treatment, cesspools are essentially unlined pits that allow raw sewage to seep directly into the surrounding soil and eventually into our aquifers. This outdated infrastructure puts drinking water sources at risk and creates public health hazards for communities across the state. Many Arizona counties lack the financial resources to address this problem on their own, particularly in rural areas where cesspools are most common. By amending sections of Arizona Revised Statutes Title 49, which governs environmental quality and water resources, HB2096 would provide counties with the state support they need to eliminate these contamination sources. This is exactly the kind of infrastructure investment that state government should prioritize. Clean water is not a luxury. It is a fundamental requirement for healthy communities and economic vitality. When cesspools contaminate groundwater, the costs of remediation fall on taxpayers anyway, but the damage to public health and water supplies may already be done. Proactive investment in proper wastewater infrastructure prevents contamination before it occurs and protects the long-term sustainability of Arizona's water resources. I strongly support HB2096 and ask that you vote in favor of this bill in committee. State government exists to address challenges that individual communities cannot solve alone. Ensuring clean water and protecting public health from failing wastewater infrastructure is a core responsibility we should fulfill.