The Gila River Indian Community now has the right to develop their own water quality standards.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday the tribe would have the same status as a state under the Clean Water Act. This means the tribe can set standards at, or higher than, federal drinking water requirements.
“This will allow the tribe to continue to build successful environmental programs," said Mike Stoker, EPA’s regional administrator for the Pacific Southwest.
The Gila River Indian Community joins 59 other tribes with the same authority — six of which are in Arizona.
