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 Arizona Department of Water Resources has taken the first step toward creating a new part of the state in which groundwater is regulated. -
Arizona’s water agency is taking the first step toward establishing groundwater protections in La Paz County where water levels are dropping rapidly. -
Because of drought, mandatory water cuts are nothing new in Utah. But the potential of large-scale reductions across the Colorado River Basin would present a steep challenge. -
BNSF railroad wants to develop a rail hub in Wittmann, an unincorporated community northwest of Surprise. Kevin Sartor is the mayor of Surprise. He joined The Show to discuss his main concerns with the facility in Wittmann. -
The state created the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority in 2022 with the mission to find and develop new water sources in the face of ongoing drought.
