Ground Water Protection in Arizona, a Foundation for Augmenting Water Supplies

Arizona relies on groundwater as a significant source of its potable water supply. In 1986, the Aquifer Protection Permit Program was established to protect all aquifers for drinking water use. The APP program has been providing protection for Arizona's groundwater supplies by requiring the application of technology to reduce or eliminate the discharge of pollutants that have the potential to cause or contribute to a violation of aquifer water quality standards. While technology may be negotiated on a case-specific basis for most discharges, treatment performance standards for wastewater treatment plants have been adopted by rule. By establishing standards that require enhanced secondary and, often, tertiary wastewater treatment, a high quality source of water has been generated that relieves the burdens on the potable water supply and aids in meeting the needs of a growing state.

The APP program provides the basic foundation for a regulatory system that facilitates recharge and reuse of reclaimed water. High quality reclaimed water becomes a valuable addition to water supplies when it is recharged through basins, vadose zone wells or injection wells. Although recharge projects require an APP to operate, reuse is authorized under a related program, the Reclaimed Water Permit Program. Changes to the regulations in 2001 created a complimentary structure between APP and Reclaimed Water Permitting. The quality of reclaimed water is controlled under an APP so reuse can be encouraged through a user-friendly system primarily based on general permits. The change in rules has resulted in an expansion in reuse that conserves potable resources for human consumption and domestic purposes.