New ADEQ rules for advancing “Advanced Water Purification” program now helping augment Arizona’s water supplies

Technologically, the ability to purify treated wastewater to a safe, potable standard has been around for many years. The greater challenge in this current age of drought and water shortages has been to establish a universal set of regulatory guidelines to assure the public that all that former waste water has been purified to the same, exacting set of standards.

It was that significant milestone that ADWR’s sister water agency – the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality – announced in March. It was then that the regulations assuring that the new “Advanced Water Purification” system were approved. The Governor’s Regulatory Review Council concluded then that the new AWP rules would assure consistently safe and pure drinking water.

With GRRC’s approval and the subsequent filing with the Arizona Secretary of State, the rules are effective, allowing Arizona cities and water providers the ability to apply for an AWP permit, observed an ADEQ press statement at the time.

This development provides a crucial tool for managing water resources amid ongoing drought conditions and increasing demand.

Arizona Water News sat down recently for a chat with Randy Matas, ADEQ’s Water Quality Division Deputy Director, to talk about this important new process for helping bolster Arizona’s potable water supplies.