Yes. In 2019, Scottsdale Water began using Advanced Water Purification (previously referred to as direct potable reuse or DPR) on a limited basis at the Scottsdale Water Campus. Purified water is provided for the taste testing demonstration at the Scottsdale Water Campus and offsite to beverage manufacturer(s) to produce beverages, such as beer.

More information about Scottsdale Water’s reuse project can be found on the City of Scottsdale website | Visit Scottsdale Website >

Projects are also underway to develop Advanced Water Purification facilities and regulatory structures in other states, including Texas, Colorado, California and Florida.

The legislature has mandated that ADEQ establish all rules necessary to establish and implement a successful Advanced Water Purification program.1 Sustained drought and increased population demands on water supplies have compounded water shortage issues, necessitating additional measures to augment and conserve water. The implementation of the Lower Basin States Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) for a Level 1 shortage will reduce Central Arizona Project (CAP) water supplies by 30 percent statewide. In addition, hundreds of people are moving to Arizona each day, increasing the need for new water.

New water supply solutions will help localities deal with shifts in the population, economy and water supply. ADEQ’s current Advanced Water Purification rule,1 is interim and requires more detail in the long-term to sufficiently address other details such as:

• Minimum performance requirements
• Design elements to prevent contamination of the water supply
• Operator qualifications
• Technical, managerial and financial capacity requirements
• Uniform terminology

A clear path to Advanced Water Purification is needed to allow utilities the ability to price and plan for Advanced Water Purification, and weigh water supply options within their communities.

The ADEQ Advanced Water Purification program will implement a clear permitting process for its users and establish standards that will protect the environment and public health, as well as align with Safe Drinking Water Act processes to avoid duplicative requirements as much as possible. ADEQ will build upon previous work, and will continue collaboration with stakeholders to create a more complete and specific Advanced Water Purification program. plan for Advanced Water Purification, and weigh water supply options within their communities.

If the facility where you are currently operating does not supply reclaimed water to an Advanced Water Purification facility or becomes an Advanced Water Purification facility, then your certification will not need to be updated. However, it is likely that water treatment operators will need specific training and education for the operation of an Advanced Water Purification facility, and that wastewater treatment operators at a plant supplying water to an Advanced Water Purification facility will also need specific training and education to protect public health.

Expansion of skills and expertise will help to ensure an operator is equipped with the knowledge needed to protect their community given the increased need for operational oversight at an Advanced Water Purification facility. Advanced Water Purification-specific requirements will be established after review of current technical literature, other state program plans and Arizona operator stakeholder discussions.

The choice to produce Advanced Water Purification water is a local decision and costs more than producing and treating water from a surface or groundwater source to ensure safety. Advanced Water Purification allows public utilities an additional water supply to meet water demand in a community.

No, Advanced Water Purification is not mandatory for water systems. Water systems can choose to use Advanced Water Purification to conserve water resources, to meet increased water demand, or to comply with water quality standards. Systems that develop an Advanced Water Purification program voluntarily must comply with Arizona’s Advanced Water Purification rules.

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Once available, information will be added to the Advanced Water Purification Comprehensive Rulemaking webpage | View >

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