Assigned to NR FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2232
on-site wastewater treatment; general permit
Purpose
Requires the Director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), by
January 1, 2026, to issue a general permit that authorizes a liquid effluent collection system that is
designed as a septic tank effluent pump system or a septic tank effluent gravity system, complies
with statutorily prescribed requirements relating to general permits for defined classes of facilities
and is owned or operated by a single person.
Background
Current statute allows the Director of ADEQ to issue by rule a general permit for a defined
class of facilities if: 1) the cost of issuing individual permits cannot be justified by any
environmental or public health benefit that may be gained from issuing individual permits; 2) the
facilities, activities or practices in the class are substantially similar in nature; and 3) the Director
of ADEQ is satisfied that appropriate conditions under a general permit for operating the facilities
or conducting the activity will meet the applicable statutorily prescribed requirements or, as to
facilities for which the Director of ADEQ has established best management practices. Rules
adopted by ADEQ for general permits may require a person who owns or operates a facility
seeking coverage under a general permit to notify the Director of ADEQ of the person's intent to
operate the facility pursuant to the general permit and pay the applicable fee.
The Director of ADEQ must establish fees for general permits issued for: 1) on-site wastewater
treatment facilities with a design flow of 3,000 gallons per day or more but fewer than 75,000 gallons
per day; and 2) on-site wastewater treatment facilities with a design flow of 50,000 gallons per day or
more. ADEQ must deposit the fees in the Water Quality Fee Fund (A.R.S. ยง 49-245).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires the Director of ADEQ, by January 1, 2026, to issue a general permit that authorizes
a liquid effluent collection system that:
a) complies with statutorily prescribed requirements relating to general permits for defined
classes of facilities;
b) is designed as a septic tank effluent pump system or a septic tank effluent gravity system,
which may include septic tanks, collection systems, secondary treatment, disposal systems
and appurtenances; and
c) including all components, septic tanks, collection system, secondary treatment disposal
system and appurtenance, is owned or operated by a single person. FACT SHEET
H.B. 2232
Page 2
2. Adds to the conditions that allow an on-site wastewater treatment facility with a design flow
of 3,000 gallons per day or more but fewer than 75,000 gallons per day to discharge under a
general permit that the on-site wastewater treatment facility is installed by an installer that is
certified by the technology manufacturer.
3. Allows for rules adopted relating to general permits to require a person who owns or operates
a facility seeking coverage under a general permit to apply for coverage under the general
permit.
4. Exempts the statutorily outlined fees relating to general permits for on-site wastewater
treatment facilities and liquid effluent collection systems from the statutorily outlined
requirements relating to administrative procedure.
5. Prohibits the Director of ADWR from requiring any design modifications or fees that are
associated with the statutorily prescribed requirement for a permittee to initiate a transition of
the permittee's facility consistent with the revised general permit program.
6. Defines liquid effluent collection system as a collection of lines that convey liquid effluent from
multiple septic tanks, as primary treated wastewater, to a common secondary treatment system
or common dispersal area through a small diameter pumping system or gravity system.
7. Defines septic tank effluent gravity system as a collection system that uses septic tanks to
separate solids and allow gravity flow of effluent to a subsequent component.
8. Defines septic tank effluent pump system as a collection system that uses a septic tank to
separate solids and incorporates a pump vault, pump and associated devices to convey effluent
under pressure to a subsequent component.
9. Contains a statement of legislative intent.
10. Makes technical and conforming changes.
11. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
NREW 2/18/25 DP 9-1-0-0
3
rd
Read 2/27/25 57-0-3
Prepared by Senate Research
March 7, 2025
SB/slp