PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Environmental Quality officials thank Governor Ducey today for signing House Bill 2094 into law, which expands grant eligibility to help small public water systems in need of water quality upgrades and infrastructure repairs. Sponsored by Representative Russell Bowers, R-25, HB 2094 makes the small water systems fund available to assist many of the 60 small water systems currently delivering water with contaminant levels exceeding federal safe drinking water standards.

Representative Bowers said today, “Unlike many state and federal environmental agencies, I am grateful to see our ADEQ become a proactive force for resolving problems, rather than heavy-handed enforcement. Providing this relief for many of our small water folks is very satisfying.”

In partnership with the Arizona Corporation Commission and the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority, ADEQ now has authority to provide grants for small water companies to maintain healthy and reliable water for their customers.

ADEQ Water Quality Division Director Trevor Baggiore said, “ADEQ’s goal is to ensure that every water system in Arizona delivers healthy drinking water to its community. These changes to HB 2094 are an important step in meeting that goal and we look forward to putting them to effective use with the ACC and WIFA.”

Significant benefits of HB 2094 include:

• Expands eligibility for small systems, serving 10,000 or fewer people (previously limited to 500 or fewer connections), which often are the sole water provider in a rural area and lack the customer base and revenue required for costly upgrades.
• Allows grants to be issued directly to owners (previously only interim operators or managers), like small municipalities and some rural schools, to fund necessary infrastructure upgrades to comply with safe drinking water standards.
• Protects the interests of Arizona’s smaller, rural communities and the State through its structure, which requires consultation between ADEQ and ACC in recommending systems to receive grant funding. In addition, ADEQ’s Director must demonstrate and certify the direct public benefit of each grant.

HB 2094 further allows ADEQ’s Director, in consultation with the ACC, to swiftly address water emergencies when necessary, outside the state procurement code.

“We have an infrastructure crisis in Arizona, especially in rural areas,” said ACC Commissioner Andy Tobin, who has been a champion in addressing water service emergencies and chairs the Commission’s Water Committee. “The customers can’t wait for long-term solutions to water problems. The signing of HB2094 is the next step in solving these problems and lets us, along with ADEQ and WIFA, act immediately.”

“Managing this program for the state allows WIFA to help even more water systems with important water projects to protect the environment and safeguard the well-being of Arizona families,” said WIFA Executive Director, Trish Incognito.

PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today the start of the National Air Quality Flag Program Spring Challenge, which runs from April 15 through May 31, 2017.

Each year, the Spring Challenge provides Arizona schools and other eligible organizations the opportunity to teach people about local air quality, how air pollution affects health and actions we can take to protect ourselves and improve the quality of the air we breathe. This is especially important when it comes to children including teens, whose risk of experiencing health issues from air pollution is greater.

Eligible Air Quality Flag Program participants in Arizona include organizations such as schools, community health centers, environmental education centers, parks and recreation centers, fire departments, and after-school/early-childcare facilities located in Maricopa, Pinal, Santa Cruz and Yuma counties.

With support from regional coordinators, ADEQ is partnering with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to register participants in the Air Quality Flag Program now. You can help keep Arizona the recognized national leader by registering today.

Registration and participation is easy:

1. Contact ADEQ to register and request flags:
   Julie Finke, Program Coordinator, 602-771-2231, Finke.Julie@azdeq.gov 
2. Check the daily air quality forecast and fly the corresponding color flag in a visible spot
3. Educate and inform the school and community
4. Follow the air quality and outdoor activity guidance: http://static.azdeq.gov/ceh/outdoor_activity_guide.pdf 

This public and children’s health program uses colored flags to notify communities about local air quality conditions and associated health guidance, which correspond with the EPA’s Air Quality Index (AQI). The flags alert people to that particular day’s air quality, so they know when to modify their outdoor activities.

Learn more about the ADEQ Air Quality Flag Program and the EPA AQI:

• http://www.azdeq.gov/FlagProgram
• https://www3.epa.gov/airnow/aqi_brochure_02_14.pdf

Sign up to receive air quality forecasts:

Text or email for Maricopa County, Santa Cruz County and Yuma County

• https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/AZDEQ/subscriber/new

For Pinal County:

• http://www.pinalcountyaz.gov/AirQuality/Pages/FlagProgram.aspx

 Download Air Quality Smartphone Apps:

• Maricopa County – CleanAirMakeMore – http://cleanairmakemore.com/tools-downloads/app/
• Santa Cruz County – Air Nogales – http://www.azdeq.gov/AirNogales
• Yuma County – Coming soon from ADEQ

 ADEQ Regional Coordinators:

Gila River Indian Community, Mariposa Community Health Center, Pinal County Air Quality Department, and Yuma County Health and Wellness Coalition

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is issuing ozone High Pollution Advisories (HPAs) for Maricopa County, effective Tues., April 11, and Wed., April 12, 2017. These HPAs are due to ozone levels expected to accumulate enough to exceed the federal health standard for ozone.

People most affected by ozone include children, senior citizens, people who work or exercise outdoors and people with pre-existing respiratory disease. Ozone can irritate the respiratory system, aggravate asthma and reduce the immune system’s ability to fight off respiratory infections. Ozone-related health problems include shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, headaches, nausea, and throat and lung irritation.

Employers and Travel Reduction Program Transportation Coordinators are advised to activate their HPA Plans immediately. ADEQ further recommends that the general public limit outdoor activity while the HPA is in effect, especially children and adults with respiratory problems.

ADEQ, MCAQD and Valley Metro recommend residents and businesses use the following tips and resources to reduce ozone pollution and make the air healthier to breathe:

Drive as little as possible, carpool, use public transit or telecommute
Re-fuel your vehicle after dark
Avoid waiting in long drive-thru lines, for example, at coffee shops, fast-food restaurants or banks – park your car and go inside
Visit valleymetro.org and ShareTheRide.com to plan a transit trip or find a carpool or vanpool
Use low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) or water-based paints, stains, finishes and paint strippers and delay big painting projects
Make sure containers of household cleaners, garage and yard chemicals and other solvents are sealed properly to prevent vapors from evaporating into the air
Visit cleanairmakemore.com to learn more about reducing air pollution

While the new, more stringent federal health standard for ozone triggers more frequent Health Watches and HPAs, the fact is that over the past two decades, Arizona has achieved significant improvements in our overall air quality and more specifically, lower ozone levels. Each and every one of us can make a difference in continuing to improve the quality of the air we breathe through simple actions that follow.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) invites stakeholders to attend a stakeholder meeting to discuss proposed changes to swimming pool rules, promulgated in 1998, which are woefully out of date.

ADEQ is required by A.R.S. § 49-104(B)(12) to have rules that prescribe minimum design standards and sanitary conditions at any public or semi-public swimming pool or bathing place. ADEQ proposes to update these standards by referencing a national standard or model code for all public and semi-public swimming pools.

Attend the meeting in person or via conference call.

View meeting details and agenda >

In person:

When:  Mon., April 17, 2017, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: ADEQ, 1110 W. Washington St., First Floor, Room 145, Phoenix, AZ, 85007
Directions to ADEQ >
Parking at ADEQ >

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Waste Programs Division staff invite interested community members and business and government personnel to participate in our free February 2017 Waste and Water webinar workshop series.

Topics will include solid and hazardous waste regulations, Arizona’s Pollution Prevention program and underground storage tanks programs.

Click for more details and to Register for these FREE
ADEQ Workshop Webinars  >

Feb. 7, 2017 | 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. | Solid Waste Overview

Feb. 14, 2017 | 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. | Hazardous Waste Regulations & Reporting

Feb. 15, 2017 | 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. | Hazardous Waste Regulations & Reporting

Feb. 16, 2017  | 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. | Hazardous Waste Regulations & Reporting

Feb. 21, 2017 | 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. | Pollution Prevention

Feb. 28, 2017  | 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. | Underground Storage Tanks

Don’t miss this opportunity to get the latest information about requirements and best practices and earn Professional Development Hours.