All on-site wastewater treatment facilities, whether conventional septic tank systems or alternative on-site facilities, servicing individual residences or business buildings must obtain approval from ADEQ or its delegated agency prior to construction under the authority of the type 4 general permits promulgated by ADEQ. Contact the appropriate delegated authority listed below for specific information about on-site wastewater treatment systems:

• Apache County Environmental Health Department, (928) 337-7607
• Cochise County Environmental Health Department, (520) 432-9400
• Coconino County Environmental Health Services, (928) 226-2768
• Gila County Environmental Health Department, (928) 425-3231
• Graham County Health Department, (928) 428-1962
• Greenlee County Health Department, (928) 865-2601
• LaPaz County Health Department, (928) 669-1100
• Maricopa County Environmental Services, Engineering Section, (602) 506-6666
• Mohave County Environmental Health Department, (928) 757-0901
• Navajo County Developmental Services Department, (928) 532-6040
• Pima County Department of Environmental Quality, (520) 740-6501
• Pinal County Environmental Health Department, (520) 866-6864
• Santa Cruz County Health Department, (520) 375-7900
• Yavapai County Environmental Services Department, (928) 771-3214
• Yuma County Environmental Services, (928) 329-2290

An applicant files a Notice of Intent (NOI) to Discharge form, supplemental information, and correct fee. Two Type 4 NOI forms are available:

• On-site Wastewater Treatment Facility NOI
• Conventional Septic System NOI

Each NOI prescribes the process for an applicant to obtain permission to construct and operate a Type 4 General Permit facility.

ADEQ or its delegated agency will review the NOI and the supplemental information to verify that the applicant has submitted all required documents. If any required documents have not been submitted, ADEQ or its delegated agency will notify the applicant of an administrative deficiency.

If ADEQ or its delegated agency determines, based upon its review of an administratively complete package of design plans, specifications, and other required documents that the facility does not conform with the technical requirements of the general permits outlined in 18 A.A.C. 9, Article 3, ADEQ or its delegated agency will make a written request for additional information.

When ADEQ or its delegated agency determines that the facility design conforms to the requirements of the general permits, ADEQ or its delegated agency will provide a notification of Provisional Verification of General Permit Conformance. The applicant then has two years to complete the construction of the facility and submit a request for Verification of General Permit Conformance.

After completing construction of the facility, the applicant must submit to ADEQ or its delegated agency all verification documents, as required by the conditions of the specific general permits.

If ADEQ or its delegated agency determines that the facility conforms to the applicable requirements of the general permit, the applicant will receive a Verification of General Permit Conformance. This Verification is the applicant's authorization to discharge under the appropriate general permit. If ADEQ or its delegated agency does not receive verification documents by the end of the two-year construction period, the NOI expires and the applicant shall not continue construction or discharge.

Effective Jan. 1, 2002, ADEQ adopted rules to provide for the statewide inspection of on-site wastewater treatment facilities (septic tanks and alternative systems) to help selling and buying property owners understand the physical and operational condition of the wastewater treatment system the home or business. This regulatory requirement for inspection applies at the time the property ownership change to any on-site wastewater treatment facility approved for use on or after Jan. 1, 2001 by ADEQ or a delegated agency.

Form A316, Report of Inspection and Notice of Transfer of Ownership, must be completed and submitted to the appropriate county agency, with a copy given to the prospective property buyer or transferee. Please read the explanation section of page 2 in Form A316 for details about the program.

ADEQ has worked with many people to establish this new program, including the Arizona Association of Realtors, to streamline the inspection approach and develop the simplest inspection report form possible.