Skip to main content

WQD | Drinking Water | Compliance Assistance

Safe Drinking Water Section

Compliance Assistance

Revised On: Mar. 12, 2024 - 9:30 p.m.

ADEQ provides various resources to help public water systems (PWSs) comply with drinking water rules, including:

Current Drinking Water Rules

Arizona's drinking water rules are located in Title 18, Chapter 4, of the Arizona Administrative Code (18 AAC 4). ADEQ adopted the federal rules to maintain Arizona's primary enforcement authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act, pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) § 49-353(A)(2)(a).

The notice of final rulemaking is available on the Arizona Secretary of State website under Arizona Administrative Register (AAR) | View Site >

Learn more about drinking water in Arizona and ADEQ's role enforcing drinking water standards | Learn More >

Learn more about national drinking water health standards, also known as Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) on the EPA website | View Site >

Delegated Authority

ADEQ works closely with two of Arizona's most populous counties to administer the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act and our state's drinking water rules.

Maricopa County Environmental Services Department (MCESD) and Pima County Deparment of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) oversee inspections, engineering plan reviews, and compliance and enforcement activities for all public water systems in their respective counties. ADEQ still maintains oversight of county and state facilities within the county and oversees all aspects of the state's drinking water programs throughout the rest of the state, except federal facilities and tribal lands. Facilities in these categories are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency.

MCESD Drinking Water Program | Visit Page > 
PDEQ Drinking Water Program | Visit Page >

If you own or use water from an individual (private) well, visit the Arizona Department of Health Services page dedicated to private wells | Visit Page >

Compliance Guide

ADEQ has developed a field compliance guide to help small, groundwater public water systems remain in compliance and prepare for inspections, or “sanitary surveys,” from ADEQ | View/Download >

Please note that it is not a full list of regulatory requirements for public water systems. Contact ADEQ (or your delegated county) with questions about drinking water compliance.

Compliance Tips

ADEQ also provides drinking water system compliance tips to those who subscribe to our Operator Certification email list | View Tip Topics >