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Public Event
Public Meeting

ADEQ is holding this virtual stakeholder meeting to review proposed fee increases authorized by the Arizona Legislature and begin the informal stakeholder process. The formal rulemaking process will begin this fall with the proposed rule to be filed in late 2022 or early 2023.

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022
Time: 10 a.m.  12 p.m.
Location: Online via GoToWebinar | Register >
                   After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details about how to join the webinar.

Background

Over the last decade, ADEQ has significantly improved our processes by eliminating waste and deepening our technical expertise | View our key performance metrics and progress >

Specific results achieved by our Water Quality Division (WQD) since 2011 include:

  • WQD is issuing permits 75% faster.
  • Facilities are returning to compliance 80% faster.

Protecting Arizona’s water quality has never been more critical. In addition to increasing threats to drinking water sources from new contaminants and a growing number of impaired surface waters, Arizona is facing a significant reduction in water from the Colorado River water deliveries, a drop in the statewide average rainfall of ~4" since 1995, and ongoing severe drought conditions.

With the majority of the WQD’s permitting and services fees established more than a decade ago (2011), the Arizona Legislature granted ADEQ the authority during the 2022 legislative session to increase fees and equip ADEQ to protect the quality of Arizona’s water resources through fully funded programs. The WQD is currently operating with a deficit. These fees must be established in rule by July 2023 to ensure the agency has the appropriate funding in place to continue critical mission work in Fiscal Year 2024. With a fully funded WQD, ADEQ will:

  • Continue issuing environmentally protective permits quickly,
  • Improve the wastewater and drinking water operator programs,
  • Update aquifer water quality standards,
  • Jumpstart the total maximum daily load (TMDL) program, and
  • Continue to focus on impaired waters and implement the monitoring and assessment programs as recommended by the Auditor General.