Arizona Revised Statutes Title 49. The Environment § 49-224. Aquifer identification, classification and reclassification

A. Not later than June 30, 1987 the director shall, by rule, identify and define the boundaries of all aquifers in this state utilizing, to the maximum extent possible, data available from the department of water resources.

B. All aquifers in this state identified and defined under subsection A of this section and any other aquifers subsequently discovered, identified and defined shall be classified for drinking water protected use unless the classification is changed in the manner provided in subsection C of this section.

C. The director, after consulting with the appropriate groundwater users advisory council established pursuant to title 45, chapter 2, article 2  1 if the aquifer is in an active management area, and a public hearing held pursuant to § 49-208, may change the classification of an aquifer or part of an aquifer for a protected use other than drinking water on making all of the following findings:

D. Owners or operators of facilities whose discharges are solely responsible for creating an aquifer may petition the director for a classification of the aquifer for a non-drinking water use. The director may, by rule, classify that aquifer for a non-drinking water use upon making the findings prescribed in subsection C, paragraphs 1 and 2 of this section.

E. The director shall provide for public participation in proceedings under this section pursuant to § 49-208 and shall hold at least one public hearing at a location as near as practicable to the aquifer proposed for reclassification.