Water in Arizona Trevor Baggiore, WQD Director November 9, 2017

Arizona Water Overview Water Info Major industry Manufacturing Mining - copper Agriculture Service Industry 1511 drinking water systems >100,000 private drinking water wells Population 6,931,000 ~350 WWTP 570,000 on-site wastewater treatment systems 6th largest by area 15th largest state by population 21st largest by GDP (economy size) 47th for rainfall (13 inches…and that is an average…the desert gets less!) Onsite data from Arizona Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Well information from UofA

Arizona is the sunniest state in the country. Arizona Facts Arizona is the sunniest state in the country. sun shines in Phoenix and Tucson for 85% of the time and 90% of the time in Yuma According to some climatologists, the Sonoran desert is the wettest desert in the world.  Arizona is currently in our 21st year of a long-term drought Reservoirs in AZ are about 60% full The original London Bridge is in Lake Havasu City The chimichanga was invented Arizona, not in Mexico Drought Data from ASU – Arizona State Climate Office England’s original London Bridge which was replaced in the 1960’s was purchased, dismantled, shipped stone by stone and reconstructed in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where it still stands today.

Welcome to Arizona – it’s a dry heat

Arizona Water Use

Water Environmental Programs in AZ Clean Water Act programs Drinking Water programs Aquifer Protection program Water Reuse program APP ADEQ issues Aquifer Protection Permits (APP) to safeguard Arizona’s groundwater. This program controls the discharge of pollutants from sewage treatment facilities, septic tanks, mining operations and other industrial facilities.  APPs establish specific discharge limits and monitoring and reporting requirements. They may also require facilities to undertake special measures to protect human health and the environment from harmful pollutants. Included in the program is engineering design review for wastewater collection and treatment. Facilities must also meet best available demonstrated control technology (BADCT) for facilities that discharge to aquifers. Reuse Arizona is an arid state – water has always been a valuable commodity. Including reclaimed water. ADEQ regulates reclaimed water through a permitting program for both water treatment and end uses. Typical uses in Arizona have been irrigation and industrial use (cooling towers at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station for example).

Direct Potable Reuse Water Reuse Recycled Water Since 2001, human consumption of reclaimed water has been prohibited In Jan 2018, that prohibition will end. Permitting and demonstrations of public health protection will be required! Does not remove any SDWA requirements Pure Brew Challenge Takes high quality recycled water from Flagstaff, Phoenix and Tucson facilities and runs through an advanced treatment system to provide a water source for locally brewed beer and bottled water. Group includes Pima County Wastewater Reclamation Services, Tucson Water, City of Phoenix, City of Flagstaff, Town of Marana, Carollo Engineers, CH2M, a collection of local breweries and other interested parties. First of a kind permit for ADEQ.  Required internal substantive policy changes in mid-stream to move forward and demonstrated ADEQ’s flexibility in support of innovation and desire to work with the regulated community. Testing for the project above what would be required for a drinking water source with respect to pathogens.

Drinking Water Challenges What have we learned: Most systems exceeding standards are small water systems, medium and large systems have occasional problems Most systems want to comply, but don’t have resources or knowledge how to comply Being a partner, rather than a regulator, is a faster, better way to help systems provide healthy drinking water How we did it: Refocused technical assistance Redirected compliance and enforcement efforts to help systems comply for the long term Developed a funding toolkit for water systems Actively participate in cross agency Water Emergency Team Daily discussions about how we can help water systems New innovation – Small water systems fund We also track and report monthly to the Governors office the % of Arizona’s population that is being served healthy drinking water (Currently 95%) Recent challenges have been DBP (Tempe, Gilbert, Apache Junction)

Drinking Water Challenges Most common contaminants Arsenic Nitrates Lead Disinfection by-products Need low cost solutions for small systems that have small revenues

Water Discharger Challenges Sanitary Sewer Overflows 230 SSOs reported in 2014 183 SSOs reported in 2015 105 SSOs reported in 2016 Discharger Example – Globe WWTP Permit limits not met 20 CWA facilities currently discharging above standards

Trevor Baggiore, Director Water Quality Division tb4@azdeq.gov Thank you! Trevor Baggiore, Director Water Quality Division tb4@azdeq.gov (602) 771-2321