< RETURN TO Permits and Registrations

Individual Aquifer Protection Permit (APP)

Revised On: Jun. 16th, 2026 - 08:30 am

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is committed to safeguarding groundwater quality and maintaining a healthy environment for our communities. 

What is an Individual APP Permit? 

APP permits are required when a facility's operations have the potential to discharge pollutants that could impact an aquifer. 

ADEQ issues Individual APP permits on a case-by-case basis, with requirements tailored to the specific operations at the facility. Individual APP permits are typically used for the regulation of large or complex facilities and sources or where no General APP is available.

What Does an Individual APP Permit Cover?

Individual APP permits include requirements designed to protect the aquifer and ensure that discharges do not have a negative impact on the groundwater quality. 

Permitted facility types can include: 

  • Industrial Facilities
  • Mining Operations
  • Wastewater Treatment Facilities
  • Solid waste disposal (Ex. Landfills)
How Does ADEQ Issue an Individual APP Permit?

The issuance of an Individual APP permit is contingent on the applicant demonstrating that the facility will:

  • Protect groundwater quality,
  • Meet stringent state water quality standards, and
  • Utilize Best Available Demonstrated Control Technologies (BADCT).

This process includes: 

  • Technical application review
  • Engineering and hydrogeologic evaluation
  • Formal public notice and participation
  • Verification of financial capability to cover closure costs
  • Final permit decision by ADEQ
Permit Term

Individual APP permits are valid for the life of the facility, but require an update to closure cost estimates and financial assurance mechanisms periodically. 

If construction does not begin within five years, the permittee must submit an amendment to update Best Available Demonstrated Control Technologies (BADCT) and ensure the design remains protective.

Permit Application Process, Time Frames, Amendments and Transfers:

ADEQ recommends a pre-application meeting before submitting an application to help applicants prepare an application that can be reviewed quickly.

Application Requirements:

  • Completed application form | View Application >
  • Engineering and hydrogeologic reports
  • Closure cost estimate and closure plan
  • Contingency plan
  • Financial assurance documentation
  • Demonstration of technical capability (e.g., certified operator)

What Happens After ADEQ Receives a Permit Application?

ADEQ reviews Individual APP permit applications to ensure facilities protect groundwater quality. Applicants submit a complete application with engineering, hydrogeologic, and closure information. 

ADEQ first verifies the application for completeness and requests additional information if needed. Once complete, ADEQ conducts a detailed technical review to evaluate facility design, treatment systems, and potential impacts to groundwater, including compliance with aquifer water quality standards and the use of best available demonstrated control technology. 

If the application meets the requirements of the rule and law, ADEQ prepares a draft permit for review by the applicant and issues a public notice, providing an opportunity for public comment, and may hold a public hearing if necessary. After considering all technical information and public input and making any modifications to the draft permit that may be prudent and necessary, ADEQ makes a final decision to issue or deny the permit.

In Arizona, all aquifers are treated as potential sources of drinking water and are therefore protected by the Aquifer Protection Program (APP), which issues both Individual and General Aquifer Protection Program permits. 

For each amendment type the agency has specific time requirements to review the application and grant the APP permit. The timeframe for each review period is listed below in business days:

Changes to the facility may require a permit amendment. 

Types of Amendments

Significant Amendment

A significant amendment requires a public comment period. Examples of these types of amendments include, but are not limited to:

  • Part or all of the facility becomes a new facility — Physical changes in the facility or changes in the operational method resulting in an increase in permitted volume based on the facility type and size:
  • Facility can no longer comply with ARS 49-243 (B)(2) or (3) 
  • Permittee requests less stringent monitoring that reduces the frequency of monitoring, reporting, or reduces the number of pollutants monitored
  • Change of the designated point of compliance 
  • Updates to BADCT 
  • Permittee requests less stringent discharge limitations 
  • Major closure or post-closure changes 

Real World Examples of Significant Amendments

  • Increasing the flow of the facility from 70,000 gallons per day (GPD) to 90,000 GPD. This is a 28.57% increase. 
  • Changing the technology of the wastewater treatment facility by converting from an activated sludge plant to a new membrane bioreactor (MBR) treatment system. 
  • Changing from ultraviolet disinfection to chlorine disinfection.

Minor Amendment 

A minor amendment tends to be small technical or administrative updates such as: 

  • Fixing a typo in a permit 
  • Correcting technical errors 
  • Adding calculated Alert Levels (ALs), Aquifer Quality Limits (AQLs), or other monitoring requirements 
  • Increasing the monitoring or reporting frequency 
  • Revising the laboratory method 

Other Amendment

Moderate changes that do not meet “significant thresholds" are classified as Other Amendments. Examples of other amendments include: 

  • Permit ownership transfer 
  • Equipment replacement like-for-like
  • Change in construction requirement, treatment method, or operational practice such as adding or removing discharge locations and/or upgrades to treatment system equipment with no change to flow or discharge 
  • Updates to closure cost estimates and/or the financial assurance mechanism 
  • Minor increases to discharges — less than that described in subsection (B)(2)(a) or (b) for a significant amendment
  • Adjustment of permit to conform to rule or statutory provisions such as AWQS Permit Update.  

If ownership changes:

  • Notify ADEQ within 15 days | Preapplication meeting form
  • Submit:
    • Names of current and new owners
    • Facility information
    • Transfer agreement
    • Signed statement accepting permit terms
    • Financial Assurance for new owner
    • Pay applicable fees.
  • Permit transfers are processed as an Other Amendment.