Reclaimed Wastewater Reuse in Arizona: Status and Vision for the 21st Century

(No paper) The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) regulates the reuse of reclaimed wastewater through the issuance of individual reuse permits to treatment plants and/or end-users of reclaimed wastewater. The permits, valid for a period of five years, contain provisions to protect public health and water quality in accordance with Arizona's reuse water quality standards. ADEQ has issued over 175 reuse permits to date covering a wide variety of end uses. Statistics, both current and projected, will be presented regarding the overall volume of reclaimed wastewater permitted for reuse, consumed by specific types of end-use, and the proportion of reclaimed wastewater that meets specific water quality standards (e.g., nitrified versus denitrified). Key challenges in administering the current wastewater reclaimed reuse program will be addressed, including groundwater quality concerns and regulatory process concerns.