[ADEQ Media] ADEQ Enters Into Consent Order with Sahuarita for Wastewater Treatment Problems

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

ADEQ Enters Into Consent Order with Sahuarita for Wastewater Treatment
Problems 

PHOENIX (Dec. 31, 2007)  -  Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
(ADEQ) Director Steve Owens announced today that ADEQ and the Town of
Sahuarita have entered into a consent order to address issues with the
town's wastewater treatment system.

The rapidly growing town in southern Pima County expanded its wastewater
plant from 250,000 gallons a day to 490,000 gallons a day in mid-2006
without receiving a required Aquifer Protection Permit (APP) from ADEQ,
a violation of state law.  ADEQ is considering enforcement against the
town for the violation.

Despite the increase in 2006, the town needs to expand the treatment
plant more. The consent order will allow the town to treat up to 200,000
additional gallons of wastewater a day at its present treatment system,
but the town is prohibited from exceeding this increased amount until it
constructs a larger treatment facility. Sahuarita also must begin
operation of the first phase of the expansion within six months of
signing the order. 

"This is a classic case of a town outgrowing its wastewater
infrastructure," Director Owens said.  "This consent order will
stabilize Sahuarita's wastewater treatment planning and help them deal
with the demands being placed on their wastewater system because of the
explosive growth they have been experiencing."

Wastewater treatment plant officials in Sahuarita recently submitted an
application to ADEQ for approval to expand their wastewater treatment
plant to accommodate 1.5 million gallons a day. Under the consent order,
Sahuarita cannot issue any additional capacity assurance forms until
ADEQ issues the APP for a design flow of 1.5 million gallons a day.  

Additionally, the consent order requires Sahuarita to track the total
amount of available monthly flow at the facility and prepare a monthly
report containing the maximum average daily flows to and from the
facility.  Flows cannot exceed an average monthly flow of 690,000
gallons a day.  The treated wastewater discharged from the facility also
must meet Class A+ effluent standard, the highest standard for effluent.

If Sahuarita violates the consent order, it could be fined up to $5,000
a day for each  violation.

-30-

News media interested in additional information on this or any other
topic concerning the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality should
contact the Office of Communications at (602) 771-2215 or via email at
communications@azdeq.gov.

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