|
NRO reviews the following types of applications for activities and facilities in Apache, Coconino, Mohave, Navajo and Yavapai counties:
Public Water System Plan Review
This section includes new source wells, pressure systems, storage tanks and distribution systems.
Arizona Administrative Code Title 18, Chapter 5, Article 5  specifies minimum design criteria for public water systems.
Prior to initiating construction or modification of any facility, a public water system must first obtain ADEQ's approval to construct. Approval to construct is also necessary prior to construction of a new source of water for a public water system.
The rule requires that plans, specifications and design reports submitted for ADEQ review be sealed and signed by a professional engineer. There is a general exception to this requirement if construction costs can be documented to not exceed $12,500. Consult NRO for more information.
In accordance with a mandate in rule, ADEQ may not be able to approve public water system plans in cases where a public water system is not in compliance with safe drinking water regulations.
Form 114 is the Application for Approval to Construct Drinking Water Facilities.
Once approval to construct is granted, and the construction has been completed, approval of construction is necessary to place the newly constructed system components into operation. An Engineer's Certification of Completion form initiates the approval of construction process.
At the present time, there is no charge for ADEQ's review of public water system construction projects.
Certain Arizona cities and counties have delegated authority to review and approve water system forms and plans. Delegation agreements are available on ADEQ's Web site.
For additional information, please review ADEQ Safe Drinking Water.
Type 4.01 General Permit - Sewage Collection Systems
A Type 4.01 general permit sets forth the permitting requirements for a new sewage collection system or expansion of an existing sewage collection system involving new construction. Consult Arizona Administrative Code R18-9-E301 for more information on applicability of this general permit and other specific requirements.
A sewer collection system repair is typically not an expansion of the system that requires an approval. Repairs are defined in Arizona Administrative Code R18-9-E301.H.
Each application must include an affirmation from the wastewater treatment plant owner or operator that capacity is available to accommodate flows from the project.
Use the form entitled, Notice of Intent to Discharge for a Sewer Collection System to obtain ADEQ's approval to construct sewage collection facilities (called a Construction Authorization).
Upon ADEQ's issuance of a Construction Authorization, the applicant may commence construction. The project must be completed within two years of issuance or the applicant must reapply for the unfinished project portion. When construction is complete, the applicant must apply to NRO for a Discharge Authorization. A Request for Discharge Authorization form is used to initiate this process.
Review fees vary based on type of collection system and number of service connections, and are to be paid at the time of notice of intent submittal.
A Type 1 General Permit is available for certain sewage collection systems serving less than 3,000 gallons per day. Type 1 General Permit systems do not require ADEQ review, provided the specific criteria are met. Please review Arizona Administrative Code R18-9-B301.K for more information.
Certain Arizona cities and counties have delegated authority to review and approve sewage collection system forms and plans. Delegation agreements are available on our Web site.
For more information, please review ADEQ's Sewage Collection System.
Type 4 General Permits for On-site Wastewater Systems
There are two categories of on-site wastewater systems, conventional and alternative. Conventional systems consist of a septic tank with a standard disposal technology, as prescribed by Arizona Administrative Code R18-9-E302 .
Generally, Arizona's counties have delegated authority to review plans for conventional systems. Counties also have delegated authority to review certain alternative system designs depending on the scope of a particular delegation agreement. Prior to submitting an application to ADEQ, please contact your local county program for information on the scope of the county's delegated authority, and to discuss any special requirements or procedures inherent to that county.
A person requesting approval of an on-site wastewater system must submit a Notice of Intent to Discharge for an Onsite Wastewater System and supporting documentation.
A Construction Authorization is required prior to construction. A Discharge Authorization is required prior to operation. A Request for Discharge Authorization for an Onsite Wastewater System is needed to initiate this review.
ADEQ Review fees vary based on the system components specified by each design, and are to be paid at the time of notice of intent submittal. The fee rule should be reviewed carefully, as there is a fee for each system component (the cost of the highest component plus $250 for each additional component). For example, a typical Wisconsin mound system review would cost $750 ($500 for the mound and $250 for the septic tank). Additional system components or deviations from rule requirements would increase this fee as well. Counties have established their own review fees for delegated systems.
For more information, please review ADEQ's on-site wastewater systems.
Subdivision Sanitary Facilities Plan Review
Arizona Administrative Code Title 18, Chapter 5, Article 4 requires ADEQ subdivision approval before a subdivision or portion thereof is offered to the public in any manner, and prior to construction of any building. ADEQ's review is to verify that adequate provision has been made for water, wastewater and garbage disposal.
Subdivision review fees are assessed as specified in the Water Quality Protection Fee Rule, Arizona Administrative Code R18-14-102(C)(4), and on the subdivision form.
Normally, subdivision applications are submitted in the same package with water and sewer applications for service to the subdivision. These components are approved together.
Subdivision applications for which on-site wastewater systems are proposed must include additional documentation, including a geology/soils report and design report, as detailed on the subdivision form instructions. County approval is also necessary (Appendix B of the subdivision form). A Clean Water Act Section 208 Consistency Review must be initiated by the developer, prior to review of the subdivision application.
Developers seeking to establish new water systems to serve new subdivisions must apply for a water adequacy report from the Arizona Department of Water Resources, and capacity development approval through ADEQ's Drinking Water Section. Arizona Corporation Commission approval may also be needed. These applications must be under review prior to ADEQ's review of a subdivision application. The subdivision application should be viewed as a latter step in the process.
Developers seeking to establish new wastewater treatment plants to serve new subdivisions must have an Aquifer Protection Permit (APP) (individual or general) prior to ADEQ's subdivision approval. Substantial time should be budgeted for this process, particularly when an individual APP is required.
For more information, please review our subdivisions Web page.
Public Swimming Pool and Spa Applications
Arizona Administrative Code Title 18, Chapter 5, Article 2 requires ADEQ review of public and semi-public swimming pools and spas, including modifications and changes in use. Applications must be submitted to ADEQ at least sixty days prior to the date of construction. NRO issues approvals to construct and approvals of construction for public and semi-public pools and spas.
Form ADEQ/WQD-147 is used for submitting swimming pool or spa design plans to ADEQ.
There are no fees assessed for swimming pool and spa review. Applicants should retain competent third party architects and/or professional engineers to inspect and certify all phases of pool/spa construction. This will help avoid delays during the approval of construction process.
Open Burn Permit Application
In Northern Arizona counties, Open Burn Permit applications are either submitted to the NRO or to a delegated fire authority.
How to Submit
NRO will review permit applications in accordance with the agency's licensing time frames rule (LTF), which governs the review time for several types of applications. The rule also places responsibility on the applicants to ensure application materials are complete.
To keep the process moving, any written comments from ADEQ on a license application should be responded to in a complete and timely fashion.
The appropriate fee, payable by check, should accompany each application. Checks should be made out to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Fees are only applicable to certain types of license applications.
Complete plans, applications and fees for Approval to Construct, Construction Authorization, Approval of Construction and Discharge Authorization and Open Burn Permit applications for Northern Arizona projects should be submitted to:
Tina Holliman
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Northern Regional Office
1801 W. Route 66, Suite 117
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Toll free: (877) 602-3675
Permit submissions through NRO are for Lake Havasu City, Bullhead City and Golden Shores. All other submissions state-wide go to Phoenix unless delegated to a city or county authority.
Other Applications
Other applications for ADEQ-issued permits and licenses should be submitted to the ADEQ Phoenix Office for review. These include:
Helpful Links
Standards for ADEQ approvals are normally contained in rule. The state of Arizona's environmental quality rules are found in Title 18 of the Arizona Administrative Code .
It is important to take the time to select a qualified designer to prepare submittals to ADEQ. Incomplete or deficient applications result in a longer review process and poor designs often lead to unnecessary, future expense. It is also important to retain properly licensed contractors for construction projects.
Type 4 General Permits for on-site wastewater facilities require a contractor's license number (see Arizona Administrative Code R18-9-A309.C.2.g). This can be found in the Request for Discharge Authorization form under item #11, "Installation Contractor Information."
The Arizona Board of Technical Registration can be accessed to view a listing of professional registrants (for instance: engineer, architect, land surveyor, geologist, etc.), and a summary of disciplinary actions.
The Arizona Registrar of Contractors can be accessed for information on a licensed contractor, including the license detail and status.
The Arizona Department of Health Services maintains a list of Arizona's Registered Sanitarians in Good Standing.
Back to NRO
| 
| Web Site Services | Last Revision Mar. 28, 2008