Surface Water Protection Permitting

Protecting Arizona’s surface waters is crucial to the state’s future. Clean water is essential for drinking water, irrigation, recreation and a healthy environment. Arizona’s surface waters are protected by Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (AZPDES) permits, which place strict limits on all pollutants discharged into protected Arizona surface waters.

Who Needs a Permit?

If you are a municipality or commercial industrial facility discharging pollutants to a protected Arizona surface water, you must have an AZPDES permit prior to discharge.

Which Permit Do I Need?

The type of industry and operations at your facility determine which type of permit you need. 

AZPDES General Permits

  • Construction General Permit | Learn More >
  • Multi-Sector General Permit (for certain industries that have stormwater runoff) | Learn More >
  • Mining Multi-Sector General Permit (for mining industries that have stormwater runoff) | Learn More >
  • Phase II MS4 General Permit (for small cities or counties with stormwater runoff) | Learn More >
  • De Minimis General Permit | Learn More >
  • Pesticides General Permit | Learn More >
  • Biosolids General Permit | Learn More >

Applications for some of these general permits may be submitted via myDEQ, ADEQ's online portal  | Learn More >

Individual AZPDES Permits

If you do not see your industry listed above, you may need an individual AZPDES permit. These permits are custom written to a facility’s type. For questions about permit coverage, please email ADEQ | Email >

Protected Surface Water Resources

List of Protected Surface Waters | View >
Map to Protected Surface Waters* | View >

Interested in our new Surface Water Protection Program for discharge to Non-WOTUS Waters? | Learn More >

* The Draft Surface Water Protection Program Map is included for informational purposes only and is not to be used for regulatory decisions. It reflects the current state of the draft proposed program. The draft map will be updated as the program is amended. If you believe ADEQ has included a waterbody that should not be included on the map OR if there is an intermittent or perennial water that should be included, please contact us | Email >