Division Brochure

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Water QualityPrograms

Mission Statement

The mission of the Water QualityDivision is to protect and enhancepublic health and the environment byensuring safe drinking water andreducing the impact of pollutantsdischarged to surface and groundwater.

Our core responsibilities include:

• Ensuring that Arizona's publicwater systems deliver safedrinking water.

• Managing the quality of waterresources through partnershipswithin the natural boundaries ofthe state's watersheds.

• Regulating the discharge andtreatment of wastewater.

• Monitoring and assessing thequality of surface and groundwaterthroughout the state.

• Identifying water pollution problemsand establishing standards toaddress them.

• Issuing permits to protect Arizonawaters from point sources ofpollution.

• Investigating complaints andviolations of Arizona's water qualitylaws, rules and permits.

Updated July 2015

Publication No. C 07-08

printed on recycled paper

Main Office1110 W. Washington St.

Phoenix, AZ 85007(602) 771-2300(800) 234-5677

(602) 771-4829 (Hearing impaired)

www.azdeq.gov

WWaatteerr QQuuaalliittyySafe Drinking Water

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, protection ofdrinking water quality starts with an assessment of thequality of the drinking water source and continuesthrough regulations that govern water systemdesign and construction. Drinking waterquality is assured further through scheduledtests required of all public water systemsfor a wide variety of potential contaminants.The results of these tests are reported tothe Water Quality Division and a summaryof test results are delivered to the customers once a year. As a result of theseregulations and continued testing, drinking watersupplies in the United States are among the cleanestand safest in the world and Arizona is no exception.

Groundwater ProtectionADEQ issues Aquifer Protection Permits (APP) to

safeguard Arizona's groundwater. This programcontrols discharges of polutants from seweragetreatment facilities, mining operations and otherindustrial facilities, septic tanks and regulates thedirect reuse of reclaimed water.

APPs establish specific discharge limits,monitoring and reporting requirements and mayalso require facilities to undertake special measuresto protect human health and the environmentfrom harmful pollutants.

ADEQ’s Pesticide Contamination PreventionProgram prevents groundwater contamination fromroutine agricultural pesticide use. The programregulates agricultural use pesticides and includesthe creation of the Groundwater Protection List ofpesticides with thepotential to reachand impact ground-water. The programpublishes an annualreport of the use ofthese listed pesticidesthrough the state.

Surface Water ProtectionThe Water Quality Division implements a number

of Clean Water Act (CWA) programs including:developing surface water quality standards to protecthuman health and the environment; monitoringthe water quality of streams and lakes throughoutthe state; assessing whether surface waters aremeeting water quality standards; and if standardsare not being met, developing a Total MaximumDaily Load (TMDL) plan with a goal to reducepollutants and restore water quality. Once theTMDL is adopted, ADEQ works closely with thepublic and private interests in the watershed toimprove water quality.

The Water Quality Division implements theArizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System(AZPDES) program. This permit program requiresall facilities that discharge pollutants from a pointsource into streams and lakes to obtain a permit.Regulated discharges include sewerage treatmentfacilities, construction sites greater than one acre,municipal stormwater systems, and a variety ofindustrial facilities. An AZPDES permit includes dis-charge limits, monitoring and reporting require-ments and other conditions necessary to protecthuman health and the environment.

Section 319 of the CWA provides states withfunds to aid in addressing nonpoint source pollutionproblems. The Water Quality Division’s WaterQuality Improvement Grant (WQIG) Program workswith local government, citizens and industry todevelop and fund restoration projects and educa-tional opportunities to protect and restore waterquality that is threatened by nonpoint pollutionsources, such as channelization, some agriculturalpractices and septic systems.

ComplianceThe WQD Compliance Section provides

compliance assistance to the regulated community,collects and analyzes data and inspects drinkingwater, wastewater and stormwater facilities. Theprogram also handles compliant investigations,enforcement actions and initiatives to ensure safedrinking water and proper discharge, disposal andreuse of wastewater according to federal and staterules and regulations.

Outreach and Community Involvement

The WQD’s outreach efforts provide the publicwith opportunities for involvement in importantissues that affect local communities and stateresources.Activities includeconducting hear-ings, workshopsand other publicevents to discusspermits, new ruleproposals, orwhen seeking thepublic’s input onnew programs, water quality initiatives or studies.Information technology advances have significantlyimproved the Water Quality Division’s ability todevelop and share findings about the quality ofArizona’s waters.

ADEQ’s Web site is continually updated toinclude important information on water quality programs and initiatives.