Advanced Water Purification rules approved in Arizona
Photo by Sonika Agarwal on Unsplash
In an effort to further ensure Arizona’s water security and resilience, the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council (GRRC) recently approved the state’s Advanced Water Purification (AWP) rules. These rules are a product of careful and thorough review, carried out with input from a Technical Advisory Group (TAG). As reported in a previous WEST Center story, TAG members included professionals from the University of Arizona WEST Center and elsewhere who contributed technical and policy expertise in areas of DPR-specific technology and engineering; wastewater and drinking water treatment technology and/or operations; Arizona water supplies and community planning; pathogens and chemistry; and more.
Figure 1. Basic water reuse steps, ADEQ 2025
Advanced Water Purification (AWP) is an innovative approach to ensure clean, safe, and sustainable water for Arizona communities by purifying water used in communities (in homes and businesses) and transforming it to a reusable supply (Figure 1). According to a recent press release from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), the approved AWP rules will establish “a comprehensive regulatory framework that ensures the safe and reliable purification of treated water for potable use while supporting a sustainable water supply for communities statewide.” As noted by the Water Resources Research Center (WRRC), the adoption of these new rules “mark a major milestone in securing Arizona’s long-term water resilience.”
More information about AWP can be found in the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) AWP Fact Sheet and AWP Infographic (below).
The WRRC also hosted a webinar on April 11, 2025 with leaders of Arizona’s three largest water providers to learn how their future water supplies will incorporate AWP to address ongoing water challenges. Contact the WRRC to learn more about this webinar and others.