49-245.02. General permit for certain discharges associated with man-made bodies of water

A. A general permit is issued for the following discharges:

1. Disposal in vadose zone injection wells of storm water mixed with reclaimed wastewater or groundwater, or both, from man-made bodies of water associated with golf courses, parks and residential common areas, provided that:

(a) The vadose zone injection wells are inventoried pursuant to the underground injection control program under either:

(i) State rules approved by the United States environmental protection agency pursuant to 42 United States Code section 300h.

(ii) Federal regulations adopted by the United States environmental protection agency pursuant to 42 United States Code section 300h.

(b) The discharge occurs only in response to storm events.

(c) With the exception of the aquifer water quality standard for microbiological contaminants, the reclaimed wastewater meets aquifer water quality standards before being placed into the body of water, as documented by a water quality analysis submitted with the vadose zone injection well registration. The owner or operator of the vadose zone injection wells shall demonstrate continued compliance with this subdivision by submitting to the department the results of any monitoring required as part of an aquifer protection permit or wastewater reuse permit for any facility providing reclaimed wastewater to the man-made body of water. For purposes of this general permit, monitoring shall be conducted at least semiannually. The monitoring results shall be submitted to the department semiannually beginning six months after the inventory made pursuant to subdivision (a) of this paragraph.

(d) The vadose zone injection wells shall be located at least one hundred feet from any water supply well.

(e) A vertical separation of forty feet shall be provided between the bottom of the vadose zone injection wells and the water table to allow the aquifer water quality standard for microbiological contaminants to be met in the uppermost aquifer.

(f) The vadose zone injection wells are not used for any other purpose.

2. Subsurface discharges from man-made bodies of water associated with golf courses, parks and residential common areas, provided that:

(a) The body of water contains only groundwater, storm water or reclaimed wastewater, or a combination thereof.

(b) The reclaimed wastewater complies with the terms of a wastewater reuse permit before being placed into the body of water.

(c) The body of water is lined and maintained to achieve a hydraulic conductivity of 10-7 cm/sec or less.

3. Point source discharges to protected surface waters from man-made bodies of water associated with golf courses, parks and residential common areas that contain only groundwater, storm water or reclaimed wastewater, or a combination thereof, provided that:

(a) The discharges are subject to a valid national pollutant discharge elimination system permit or an Arizona pollutant discharge elimination system permit under article 3.1 of this chapter.

(b) The discharges occur only in response to storm events.

(c) With the exception of the aquifer water quality standard for microbiological contaminants, the reclaimed wastewater meets aquifer water quality standards before being placed into the body of water.

B. If the director determines that discharges from a facility covered by this general permit are causing a violation of aquifer water quality standards, the director may revoke the general permit of the facility or may require that an individual permit be obtained pursuant to section 49-243. If the director determines that discharges from a facility covered by this general permit may cause, with reasonable probability, a violation of aquifer water quality standards, the director may require the facility to obtain an individual permit pursuant to section 49-243.