Posted On: Oct. 13th, 2026 - 04:04 pm
On Oct. 14, 2026, the comment period begins for the preliminary decision to issue a significant amendment to an Individual Aquifer Protection Program (APP) Permit to the Arizona State Parks Board for the Patagonia Lake State Park Wastewater Treatment Plant located in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. The comment period ends Nov. 13, 2026.
Aquifer Protection Permit (APP) No.: 100624
Permittee:
Arizona State Parks Board
Facility:
Patagonia Lake State Park Wastewater Treatment Plant
400 Patagonia Lake Road
Nogales,Arizona 85621
Santa Cruz County
The permittee is authorized to operate the Patagonia Lake State Park Wastewater Treatment Plant with a maximum average monthly flow of 24,900 gallons per day (GPD). The facility utilizes a Membrane Biological Reactor package plant to treat wastewater at the park generated primarily from recreational restrooms/showers and RV dump stations.
The purpose of this amendment is to repurpose the two-existing bentonite-clay lined facultative lagoons as lined effluent holding and evaporation basins following clean closure verification. Treated effluent is proposed to be managed primarily through discharge to the lined basins for on-site containment and evaporation. In an emergency, the facility has the option to discharge treated effluent to the nearby dry wash, a tributary to Patagonia Lake, in accordance with Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (AZPDES) Permit No. AZ0026620. Additionally, the applicant requested to replace the discharge monitoring parameter of Fecal Coliform with E. Coli and modify monitoring frequency for E. coli at discharge sampling point for consistency between this permit and the AZPDES permit. This proposed alignment in monitoring frequency will ensure continued protection of public health and the environment.
Review Documents:
Public Comment Period:
Dates: Oct. 14, 2026 – Nov. 13, 2026
Comments may be submitted as follows:
- By Email | Send Email >
- By Mail (Must be postmarked or received by Nov. 13, 2026):
ADEQ
Water Quality Division, Groundwater Protection
Attn: Nabila Nafsin
1110 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
