On Dec. 5, 2002, Arizona became one of 45 states with authorization from EPA to operate the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Program (Section 402 of the Clean Water Act) on the state level.

Under the Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (AZPDES) Permit Program, all facilities that discharge pollutants from any point source into waters of the United States (navigable waters) are required to obtain or seek coverage under an AZPDES permit. Pollutants can enter waters of the United States from a variety of pathways, including agricultural, domestic and industrial sources. For regulatory purposes these sources are generally categorized as either point source or nonpoint sources.

AZPDES Rules
ADEQ developed rules for the AZPDES program in 2001 and revised them in 2002 and 2004. The most recent revision was published in the Arizona Administrative Code on Dec. 26, 2003. View the final version of the AZPDES rules at 18 A.A.C. 9, Art 9 , effective on Feb. 2, 2004 (page 82).

• Overview of the AZPDES Process
• Individual Permits
• General Permits
  • De Minimus
  • Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations
• Stormwater
  • Phase II
  • Construction Activities
  • Multi Sector (Industrial Activities)
  • Municipal Stormwater Program
• Pretreatment Program
• Biosolids/Sewage Sludge
• Forms and Guidance
• FAQs
• NOI Construction Database Search
• Other Programs Affecting AZPDES
• Contacts

News Releases

• 06/25/07: ADEQ Director Steve Owens' Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Decision Upholding Arizona's Water Quality Permitting Program