Advisory Panel on Emerging Contaminants (APEC)

The Advisory Panel on Emerging Contaminants (APEC) was formed by ADEQ to advise the agency and water utilities on matters concerning unregulated chemicals and pathogens in water. APEC will address chemicals and pathogens of emerging concern that threaten the continued safety of water, such as chemicals from pharmaceuticals and personal care products, and pathogens, such as the Naegleria parasite, Legionella bacterium and Hepatitis A virus. The panel will provide a forum for open discussion, prioritization and planning related to emerging contaminant issues of critical interest to the safe use of drinking water, reclaimed water and recycled water in Arizona.

APEC Mission Statement

APEC's mission shall be to:

  1. Provide guidance on identifying and managing unregulated chemical and microbial contaminants in Arizona’s water so as to minimize risk to human health and the environment
  2. Identify research opportunities and funding mechanisms to improve our understanding of emerging contaminant issues
  3. Provide guidance on effectively communicating issues of unregulated chemical and microbial contaminants to the citizens of Arizona
  4. Seek to become an influential voice for addressing unregulated chemical and microbial contaminants on a statewide basis and contributing to the national discussion

Original Announcement

Press Release (June 15, 2012) | Download >

Additional Resources

  • DRAFT Emerging Chemical Contaminants of Concern in the State of Arizona’s Water | Download >
  • DRAFT Emerging Waterborne Pathogens of Concern in the State of Arizona | Download >
  • PRESENTATION Analysis of Microplastic Beads and their Removal at a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant | Download >
  • PRESENTATION Prioritizing Compounds of Potential Concern at the Scottsdale (AZ) Campus | Download >

Contact Information

Members and Staff | Download >

Committees

Meeting Agenda, Minutes, and Presentations

May 8, 2015
The Advisory Panel on Emerging Contaminants (APEC): A Progress Report | Download >

October 10, 2014
Arizona’s Legacy and Leadership in Wastewater Reuse | Download >

Sept. 27, 2013
City of Flagstaff - City Manager's Compounds of Emerging Concern Advisory Panel | Download >
SCAPR Update | Download >
Unregulated Chemical Contaminants | Download >
Outreach and Education Subcommittee | Download >
Agenda | Download >
Minutes | Download >

May 17, 2013
The Future of Potable Reuse in Arizona | Download >
Agenda | Download >
Minutes | Download >

Feb. 15, 2013 
Risk Assessment 101 | Download >
Agenda | Download >
Minutes | Download >

Dec. 7, 2012
Prioritization of Chemical Contaminants | Download >
Safe Drinking Water Program Overview | Download >
Emerging Microbial Issues | Download >
Emerging Contaminants: Tucson Water’s Approach | Download >
Agenda | Download >
Minutes | Download >

Final Report Completed

ADEQ is pleased to announce that the report, Emerging Contaminants in Arizona Water: A Status Report, authored by the Advisory Panel on Emerging Contaminants (APEC), is complete and available.

In this report, APEC, a 35-member panel of experts and lay persons convened by ADEQ, documented available information on emerging contaminants (ECs) in Arizona’s water supplies, including surface water, groundwater, reclaimed water and drinking water. The report also provides recommendations to ADEQ to improve the identification, management, and communication of the occurrence of chemical and microbial ECs in Arizona waters, with the goal of minimizing risk to human health and the environment.

As background, ECs are chemicals, biological agents, and naturally occurring elements detected in the environment that may pose a potential or real threat to human health or the environment, but which generally are not currently regulated by the U.S. EPA or ADEQ. ECs may derive from pharmaceuticals, personal care products, food additives, industrial chemicals, and other sources. They may include metals, natural and synthetic hormones, and pathogenic bacteria, protozoa and viruses.

This report includes chapters describing:

  • Arizona water sources and characteristics relevant to EC occurrence
  • ECs found in Arizona waters
  • EC research in Arizona
  • Guidance for water utilities on minimizing EC occurrence
  • Guidance for the public
  • Recommendations

Of special interest to many readers, APEC compiled a list of 109 ECs (Appendix A) that have been detected in measurable levels in one or more of the following Arizona waters: Colorado River and CAP Canal water; other surface waters; treated wastewater and reclaimed water; groundwater; and drinking water.

ADEQ wishes to express its sincere appreciation to APEC members for devoting many volunteer hours to compile the information for this report, write the text and stay the course throughout seemingly innumerable redrafts.

ADEQ accepts this report with gratitude and will review the report’s recommendations to determine how best they may be implemented.

APEC Final Report | Download >