Types of Permits
ADEQ issues individual and general AZPDES permits.

An individual permit is tailored for a specific facility based on an individual application. ADEQ develops the permit based on this information and incorporates technology-based requirements, water quality standards and other conditions appropriate to the facility. The permit is then issued for a specified period of time not to exceed five years.

A general permit is developed and issued to cover multiple facilities within a specific category, industry or area. General permits offer a cost-effective and efficient option for agencies to cover a large number of facilities with elements in common under one permit. In addition, the permittee is ensured consistency in permit conditions for similar facilities. A general permit could be written to include all facilities within a common geographic area that:

• Involve the same or substantially similar types of operations
• Discharge the same types of wastes
• Require the same effluent limitations or operating conditions
• Require the same or similar monitoring requirements.

Components of a Permit
Individual and general permits must address, at a minimum, the following general sections:

• Cover page - The name and location of the permittee, discharge locations, and a statement authorizing the discharge;
• Effluent limitations and other monitoring requirements - Based on technology-based and water quality standards, these are the primary mechanism for controlling discharges of pollutants to receiving waters and characterizing wastestreams
• Monitoring and reporting requirements - Specifies sample collection and analysis and reporting results to evaluate wastewater treatment efficiency and determine compliance with permit conditions
• Biosolids - For the management of sludge at wastewater plants that treat domestic wastewater
• Special conditions - Additional requirements to supplement effluent limitations. Examples include mixing zones, best management practices, ambient monitoring programs, toxicity evaluations, and compliance schedules
• Standard conditions - Pre-established conditions that apply to all AZPDES permittees and outline the administrative, legal and procedural requirements of the program.

The contents of each permit will vary depending on whether it is issued to a municipal, private or industrial facility, the site of the facility, and whether the permit is issued for individual or multiple discharges.

Permitting Process
The permitting process begins when an application is submitted. Once received, the ADEQ permit writer reviews the application for completeness and accuracy. Once complete, the permit writer begins to develop the draft permit and the supporting documentation for the permit conditions (known as a fact sheet).

The first step in the process is deriving technology-based effluent limits, if applicable. Next, the writer compares these effluent limits to those developed based on surface water quality standards. The most stringent of the two is used in the permit and documented in the fact sheet. A permit may contain both types of limits. For example, a permit may contain effluent limits for BOD5 and TSS based on national effluent limitations guidelines (technology-based) and limits for ammonia and metals based on prevention of aquatic toxicity (water quality-based). The permit writer also evaluates the application for antidegradation and other program elements.

Following the development of effluent limits, the permit writer develops appropriate monitoring and reporting conditions, facility-specific special conditions, and includes the standard conditions.

The next step is to provide an opportunity for public participation. The draft permit is public noticed (generally 30 days) in a newspaper of general circulation to solicit comments from the public and interested parties. Based on the comments received, the permit writer finalizes the permit and documents the process and decisions for the administrative record.

AZPDES Index · Overview of the AZPDES Process · Individual Permits · General Permits · Stormwater · Pretreatment Program · Biosolids Sewage/Sludge · Forms & Guidance · FAQs · Other Programs