Public Information on Statute

Pursuant to A.R.S. § 49-358, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (Department) has developed a water system compliance assistance program to assist public water systems in complying with state and federal laws, rules and regulations regarding safe drinking water.  As of March 12, 2019, there are 1,516 public water systems (PWS) in operation in Arizona.  Of this universe of water systems, 1,449 (96%) are classified as “small water systems” serving 10,000 or fewer persons.  Historically, these small-and medium-sized public water systems have accrued the vast majority of Arizona’s reported drinking water violations (e.g., contaminant exceedance violations, no certified operator, missed monitoring).  The capacity development program works to ensure that public water systems possess the technical, managerial and financial capacity to operate in accordance with all the drinking water rules and regulation. Capacity development also reaches out to “small public water systems” needing technical assistance which is provided by the Department or through third party contractors.

Draft Master Priority List

Public water systems are identified for technical assistance on the basis of the Master Priority List (MPL) which is updated annually in March.  The criteria used to determine the need for assistance include the measures used in determining the technical, managerial and financial (TMF) capacity of existing PWSs.  Additional criteria include the public water system’s score on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Enforcement Targeting Tool (ETT), system classification type, population served, and violations history.  Technical assistance contracts are typically awarded to prepare one of several deliverables: a TMF capacity assessment of the water system, an evaluation of compliance options for water systems with maximum contaminant level (MCL) violations or the design of a treatment system to address an ongoing MCL violation.   As funding is available, the Department will award technical assistance to those PWSs with the highest MPL rankings and who are willing to work with the Department and its technical assistance providers.  The Water Infrastructure Financing Authority (WIFA) also uses the MPL to identify possible candidates for additional technical assistance and/or financial assistance (e.g., low interest loans, technical assistance design grants, forgivable principle).

Review Documents

Original Published Public Notice | View/Print >
FY21 Draft Master Priority List | Download/Print > 
FY21 Draft Master Priority List Legend | View/Print >

You may also review the above documentation in person at the ADEQ Record Center | Learn How >

Public Comment Period 

Dates: April 3, 2020 – May 4, 2020

At the completion of the public review period, the public meeting will be held on May 4, 2020.  Following the meeting, the Department will formulate a response to submitted comments and consider modifications to the MPL in response to those comments.

Comments may be submitted as follows:
     By Email | Send Email > 
     By Mail (Must be postmarked or received by May 4, 2020):

       ADEQ
       Linda Taunt
       Water Quality Division
       1110 W. Washington Street
       Phoenix, AZ  85007 

Public Hearing Date

Monday, May 4, 2020

Time: 9:30 a.m.
Place: Online Only

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Call In: 1-518-323-9850‬
Access Code (PIN): 880 491 533#‬