What does Eric need to operate his well within the Tucson AMA?

To operate his well within the Tucson Active Management Area (AMA), Eric needs a service area right, a withdrawal permit, or grandfathered rights. This requirement is established under Arizona water law, which regulates water usage in designated AMAs to ensure sustainable water management.

Service area rights relate to areas where water service is provided by a municipality or water provider, permitting users to draw water under specific guidelines. A withdrawal permit is necessary for extracting groundwater from an underground source, providing an essential regulatory check to manage water resources responsibly. Grandfathered rights may apply to water users who historically used water from a specific source before regulatory limits were imposed, allowing them to continue that usage under certain conditions.

These regulations are particularly important in AMAs like Tucson, where water scarcity issues necessitate strict management practices to protect the aquifer. The other options do not meet the regulatory requirements or do not address the specific legal framework necessary for operating a well in this context.