Last updated: November 6, 2026
Short answer: A CAGRD assessment is a line item on many Maricopa County property tax bills for homes in Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District member lands. It pays to replenish groundwater delivered to your parcel. It is based on prior-year groundwater use, not your home's limited property value, and is collected with your county taxes.
Key takeaways
- CAGRD (Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District) replenishes groundwater for enrolled member lands so subdivisions can meet Arizona's assured water supply rules.
- The assessment shows up on your county property tax bill and is collected by the Maricopa County Treasurer, then transferred to CAGRD.
- Unlike a typical ad valorem tax line, it is not an ad valorem rate on limited property value. It is based on the volume of groundwater used at your parcel in the prior year (A.R.S. 48-3778).
- Under current law you generally cannot remove an enrolled home from CAGRD. If your provider delivers no groundwater, the replenishment assessment can be $0, but membership dues may still apply.
Want to talk it through? Book a time to chat with me (30 minutes, 9 AM–7 PM Arizona time).
¡Qué tal! I'm Rosie Armenta. If you are relocating to Avondale, AZ, or opening your first West Valley tax bill, a line that says CAGRD can look mysterious. It is not a surprise fine. It is how Arizona pays to put water back into the aquifer when your subdivision uses groundwater. Knowing what it is helps you budget and compare homes with fewer surprises.
What does CAGRD stand for, and why does it exist?
CAGRD is the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District. According to CAGRD's member land FAQ (checked November 6, 2026), the Legislature created it in 1993 so property owners and water providers can help demonstrate a 100-year assured water supply. CAGRD is operated by the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD), which also oversees the Central Arizona Project, but CAGRD is a separate legal and financial entity.
CAP's property-tax page explains that residential subdivisions developed after February 1995 generally cannot rely only on unreplenished ("mined") groundwater. Developers enroll member lands so CAGRD can recharge, or replenish, groundwater pumped to serve those homes.
Is a CAGRD assessment the same as the CAWCD tax?
No. Your bill may show both.
| Line on the bill | What it pays for | How the amount is set |
|---|---|---|
| CAWCD / CAP taxes | Building and operating the Central Arizona Project aqueduct and related water storage | Ad valorem rates on limited property value (CAP says a general tax up to 10 cents and a water storage tax up to 4 cents per $100 of LPV) |
| CAGRD replenishment assessment | Replenishing groundwater delivered to your enrolled parcel | Volume of groundwater used on the property in the prior year, times the replenishment rate the CAWCD Board sets |
A CAP assessment letter (A.R.S. § 48-3778) stresses that CAGRD's charge is not based on an ad valorem tax rate. County treasurers collect it with the annual property tax process and transfer it to CAGRD.
Who has to pay, and can I get out of it?
If your parcel is CAGRD member land with a parcel replenishment obligation, yes — state law says you pay the assessment with your county taxes. A.R.S. 48-3778 also says the exemptions that apply to regular ad valorem taxes do not apply to these assessments, and unpaid assessments are collected with the same tools used for delinquent property taxes, including liens.
CAGRD and CAP both say that under current law you generally cannot take an enrolled home out of CAGRD. If your water provider switches fully to renewable surface water so no groundwater is delivered, the replenishment assessment can drop to $0, but landowners enrolled in CAGRD may still owe annual membership dues. Confirm your parcel status with CAGRD's membership locator and your water provider.
Why is my neighbor's CAGRD line different from mine?
Common reasons from CAGRD's FAQ:
- You used more groundwater last year than your neighbor.
- Your subdivision's Groundwater Allowance (set by the Arizona Department of Water Resources) was applied differently by the water provider, so more of your use needed replenishment.
- Your neighbor's home may be older than the mid-1990s rules, in a Member Service Area (where replenishment is collected on the water bill instead), receiving no groundwater, or served by a provider that does its own replenishment.
Example only: made-up round numbers, not real Avondale prices.
| Example only | Home A | Home B |
|---|---|---|
| Prior-year groundwater needing replenishment | 0.10 acre-foot | 0.18 acre-foot |
| Made-up replenishment rate | $200 per acre-foot | $200 per acre-foot |
| Made-up CAGRD line | $20 | $36 |
Real rates and volumes change every year. Use CAGRD's estimate tools and your water provider's delivery report if you want parcel-specific numbers.
How do I check whether a home I want to buy has a CAGRD assessment?
- Ask for a recent tax bill or look up the parcel on the Maricopa County Treasurer / Assessor sites and scan for a CAGRD line.
- Use CAGRD's membership locator (linked from cagrd.com) to see if the parcel is member land.
- Ask the seller and the water provider how water is delivered (groundwater, CAP, mixed) and whether assessments appear on the tax bill or the water bill.
- Budget the line as part of ownership cost, along with the base property tax. My post on how much property taxes are in Avondale, AZ walks through the rest of the bill.
- Compare with CFD lines if you see those too. A Community Facilities District is a different charge. See what a CFD is in Avondale, AZ.
How do I review a CAGRD line before I buy, step by step?
- Pull the parcel's latest tax bill. Look for "CAGRD" or similar wording.
- Confirm member-land status on CAGRD's locator or by emailing CAGRD with the parcel number.
- Ask the water provider for how Groundwater Allowance is applied in that subdivision.
- Compare two years of bills if the seller has them, so you see whether the line jumped when allowance ran down.
- Fold the amount into your monthly ownership estimate with taxes, insurance and HOA dues.
- Write questions into your due diligence list so nothing waits until after closing.
Moving from out of state? I do live video tours, and my post on buying a home in Avondale from out of state covers how we handle paperwork from a distance.
Save this for the first tax bill after you move.
Related questions I get a lot: relocating to Arizona step by step and what sellers have to disclose in Avondale, AZ.
Comparing Avondale tax bills and seeing a CAGRD line? Book a time to chat with me (30 minutes, 9 AM–7 PM Arizona time), or call or text me at 623-295-5770.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CAGRD on my Maricopa County tax bill?
It is usually the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District assessment for replenishing groundwater delivered to an enrolled member-land parcel. The county collects it and transfers it to CAGRD.
Is the CAGRD assessment based on my home's value?
No. Official CAP and CAGRD materials say it is based on the volume of groundwater used on the property in the prior year, not an ad valorem rate on limited property value.
Do all Avondale homes pay CAGRD?
No. Older homes, Member Service Area arrangements, homes with no groundwater deliveries, or providers that replenish on their own may show no CAGRD tax-bill line. Check the parcel.
Can I remove my house from CAGRD?
CAGRD and CAP say that under current law you generally cannot. If groundwater deliveries drop to zero, the replenishment assessment can be $0, but membership dues may still apply.
Why did my CAGRD bill go up when my water use stayed the same?
Often the subdivision's Groundwater Allowance was drawn down, so more of the same use needed replenishment, or the board's replenishment rate changed. Ask your water provider and CAGRD.
Are CAGRD assessments eligible for the same exemptions as property taxes?
A.R.S. 48-3778 says the exemptions applicable to ad valorem taxes do not apply to these assessments.
Is CAGRD the same as assured water supply?
Related, but not the same line item. CAGRD membership is one way subdivisions help meet Arizona's assured water supply framework. Always verify the parcel's water story with ADWR, the provider and CAGRD.
Who do I call with a CAGRD billing question?
Start with CAGRD (contacts on cagrd.com / CAP, including the parcel-number email listed on the member land FAQ) and your municipal water provider. For how the county prints the bill, contact the Maricopa County Treasurer.
I'm a real estate agent, not a water attorney, a hydrologist or a tax advisor. I can't tell you what your exact CAGRD assessment will be next year or how to appeal a specific line. Please confirm parcel details with CAGRD, your water provider and the Maricopa County Treasurer.
This article is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Please talk with a licensed attorney, CPA, or lender about your situation.
About the author
Rosie Armenta | West USA Realty. Avondale (85392) is her home base, and she helps buyers and sellers across the West Valley in English and Spanish. Book a time to chat with me (30 minutes), or call or text 623-295-5770. Selling? Get a home value report.
Rosie Armenta | West USA Realty | Equal Housing Opportunity
Information was checked on November 6, 2026, from the CAP-AZ CAWCD property tax and CAGRD assessments page, the CAGRD Member Land FAQ, A.R.S. 48-3772, 48-3774 and 48-3778, and CAP's member land replenishment assessment letter. Rates, membership rules and bill formats can change, so please confirm current details with CAGRD, your water provider and the Maricopa County Treasurer.