ADEQ's AMS Transformation

ADEQ’s transformation over the past decade has reduced waste in the agency and helped us improve services to our customers, furthering our mission to protect and enhance public health and the environment of Arizona.

Our Strategies 

  • Address known, ongoing, unauthorized impacts to human health and the environment
  • Implement the Surface Water Protection Program
  • Improve staff support systems for a hybrid workplace
  • Assume primacy of Underground Injection Control (UIC) and Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) federal programs
  • Ensure sustainable environmental program funding
  • Catalyze water recycling in Arizona
  • Leverage Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for a healthy environment

Our Results

When working inside of a disciplined management system, the Arizona Management System (AMS) in particular, more engaged employees can achieve amazing results. While there is certainly more to do, our results demonstrate a firm commitment to continuously improving our environment. 

Demonstrated financial stewardship.

More cleanups are being completed.

Number of Net Open UST Releases

Number of Underground Storage Tank (UST) Releases Cleaned Up

Cumulative WQARF (State Hazardous Waste) Sites Delisted

Average Time in Years to Implement Remedy (By Reported Date)

Although impacted by older sites that preceded the metric, remedies are being implemented faster today. These averages reflect ADEQ's continued progress in implementing remedies for sites identified from 1987 through 2014. As remedies for these older sites are implemented, this metric will continue to improve and better reflect the efficiency ADEQ has achieved since 2015 and the speed at which we currently are addressing sites.

Average Time in Years to Implement Remedy (Cumulative By Implementation Date)

Cumulative Number of Known Ongoing Unauthorized Impacts (KOUI) Sites Addressed

Greater than 99 percent of the population continues to receive drinking water that meets state and federal requirements. 

Percent Population Served Healthy Drinking Water

Fewer systems are delivering water that does not meet federal limits.  Number of systems is calculated two ways: EPA and ADEQ methods.

Number of Drinking Water Systems Delivering Water that Does Not Meet Federal Limits (EPA Method)

Number of Drinking Water Systems Delivering Water that Does Not Meet Federal Limits (ADEQ Method)

Percent Population Breathing Air that Meets Federal Standards

Number of Air Quality Non-Attainment Areas

Compliance Rate for Vehicles

Compliance has improved through outreach and training.

Compliance Rate: On-Site Inspections

Faster return to compliance.

Return to Compliance

Number of Inspections

Number of Net Impaired Surface Water Bodies

Number of Net Pollutant Impairments in Surface Water Bodies

Protective permits are being issued faster.

Average Days to Permit Decision without myDEQ

Average Days to Permit Decision with myDEQ

Filled Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

ADEQ Budgeted FTE

Employee Engagement Ratio

1No survey conducted.

ADEQ is committed to continuously improving, measuring performance and transparency in reporting. We don't hide problems; there is more to do. The only problems we can’t solve together are the ones we don’t know about.

Learn more about our meaningful metrics | Key Performance Data Explained >

Other Achievements

  • Vacated and sold buildings in Phoenix (2017) and Tucson (2020), returning $2.32 million to the State.
  • Consolidated office space in Phoenix in 2015 and 2021, reducing total square feet by nearly 83,000 square feet, which has reduced annual rent expense by close to $1.5 million every year.
  • Reduced vehicle emissions inspections fees, saving motorists more than $95.4 million since 2014.

Recognition

2023

  • National Association of Environmental Professionals Environmental Excellence Award for Environmental Management, Stewardship, Conservation and/or Protection for sustainable protection of Oak Creek through local, state and federal partnerships.
  • Arizona Forward Environmental Excellence Natural Environment Preservation Crescordia Award for Surface Water Clean-Ups Protect Water Quality and Enhance Vital Habitats in Arizona.
  • Arizona Forward Environmental Excellence Healthy Communities Award of Distinction for Preventing Arsenic Exceedances Through Predictive Analytics.
  • National Association of Government Communicators Blue Pencil & Gold Screen Award of Excellence for developing an agencywide public notice toolkit that helps ensure Arizonans are aware of and can participate in agency decisions they care about.

2022

  • American Exploration and Mining Association Award for Environmental Excellence with Arizona Sonoran Copper Company, Inc. for site remediation and reclamation related to Cactus Mine (formerly the Sacaton Mine).
  • Friends of the Verde River Government Agency Partner of the Year for watershed protection.
  • Environment + Energy Leader 50 Honoree for Office of Environmental Excellence success in addressing sites with known, ongoing, unauthorized impacts to public health and/or the environment, and leading ADEQ's PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) strategic and interagency actions and ADEQ's quality management system.
  • National Ground Water Association Outstanding Groundwater Remediation Project Award for Expedited Site Characterization and Remediation of PFAS in Groundwater Protects City of Tucson Drinking Water Wellfield.
  • Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies designates Open Burn Permit Program online permitting portal as Best Practice in Air Pollution Control.
  • National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) State Information Technology Award — Digital Government: Government to Business Category: myDEQ Environmental Compliance Portal for Underground Storage Tank Compliance and Reporting Goes Digital.
  • Environment + Energy Leader Top Product of the Year Award for the Innovative Air Quality Emissions Calculator that demonstrates how organizational teleworking improves regional air quality.
  • Gartner Communications Award for Excellence in Communications Measurement and Reporting for helping record numbers of motorists improve Arizona air quality through the Voluntary Vehicle Repair Program.
  • Arizona Forward Environmental Excellence Natural Environment Preservation Award of Distinction for the Path to Protection at Oak Creek, a multi-year water quality restoration collaborative project.
  • American Meteorological Society Special Award for ground-breaking work to develop the Wildfire Smoke Forecast.
  • National Association of Environmental Professionals Environmental Excellence Award for Best Available or Innovative Technology for developing and implementing tools that bring clarity and efficiency to protecting Arizona's surface waters under the federal Clean Water Act and new state program.
  • National Association of Environmental Professionals Environmental Excellence Award for Public Involvement and Education for the First-of-its-Kind in the Nation State Wildfire Smoke Forecast.
  • Granicus Digital Government Difference Maker Award Finalist for impacting the lives of Arizonans through the Voluntary Vehicle Repair Program and Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund (WQARF) Community Involvement.

2021

  • Environment + Energy Leader 100 Honoree for Waste Programs Division innovations, record mission outcomes and pandemic response.
  • Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies designates COVID-19 Air Quality Inspection/Compliance Determinations as Best Practice in Air Pollution Control.
  • Exemplary System in Government by URISA for Mobile Compliance Inspections.
  • Environment + Energy Leader Top Product of the Year Award for the Automated Surface Water Quality Assessment Tool.
  • Granicus Digital Government Award for Superior Civic Engagement for myDEQ, My Community & Companion Demographic & Environmental Data Dashboard, Wildfire Smoke Forecast and Automated Surface Water Quality Assessment Tool.
  • National Association of Environmental Professionals Environmental Excellence Award for Public Involvement and Education for the Arizona Water Watch Citizen Science Program.

2020

  • Environment + Energy Leader 100 Honoree for using AMS to dramatically increase positive environmental outcomes and deliver award-winning online services for customers.
  • CIO 100 for myDEQ online permitting and reporting portal, innovative agile software development and deployment.
  • Adobe Creativity Government Award Finalist for Arizona Water Watch marketing materials. Arizona Water Watch offers Arizona residents and visitors the opportunity to help monitor and protect Arizona’s waters.
  • Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) Special Achievement in GIS Award for Arizona Water Watch.

2019

  • Arizona Forward Environmental Excellence Technology Innovation Crescordia Award for ADEQ’s Water Watch mobile app.
  • Center for Digital Government State Government Experience Award for myDEQ.

2018

  • Governor Douglas A. Ducey Good Government Award.
  • Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) State Innovation Award for Arizona Water Watch.
  • National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) State Information Technology Award — Digital Government: Government to Business Category: myDEQ Environmental Compliance Portal.