The Governor's Regulatory Review Council has approved new aquifer water quality standards.
The standards are Arizona’s legal safety limits for pollutants in groundwater. The changes include new or revised caps on seven contaminants like arsenic and uranium, which can harm human health at high concentrations.
If contamination exceeds those limits, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) can require corrective actions, like treatment, containment or cleanup.
According to ADEQ, more than 80% of Arizona residents rely on groundwater for drinking water, especially those in rural communities and private well households.
“This is a win for public health and Arizona communities that depend on groundwater for drinking water,” said Trevor Baggiore, ADEQ Water Quality Division director. “We are proud to deliver on our commitment to modernize these standards to reflect the latest science and federal regulations.”
They will take effect on Aug. 4.
-
The illness features symptoms like fever, joint aches and fluid in the lungs. Sickened river rafters and boaters are using social media to discover they're not alone in it. -
FEMA has awarded about $700,000 to Arizona and the Havasupai Tribe to fund hazard mitigation projects. The money came from a program the federal agency had nixed but was reinstated by the courts earlier this year. -
State environmental regulators have given the owner of a uranium mine near the Grand Canyon the green light for higher levels of arsenic in groundwater under the facility. -
City leaders disagree with the Arizona Water Banking Authority about how to dole out Colorado River water from underground storage. -
The credits are through Central Arizona Project Water. Municipalities have looked to Harquahala Valley to support their water systems in the last year.
