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<br />002984 <br /> <br />WATER QUALITY RELATED RESPONSIBILITIES <br />OF <br />THE STATE OF ARIZONA <br /> <br />Anm1nistration of water pollution control activities in Arizona <br />is vested ~rimarily in the State Department of Health and secondarily <br />in others (the State Game and Fish Commission, the Interstate StreaJll <br />Commission, and the State Land Department). ']he Department of Health <br />has been designated by the Governor as the agency charged with the <br />State's responsibilities under the Federal Water Pollution Control <br />Act of 1956, as amended. <br /> <br />Authority <br /> <br />Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 36, Section 36-105, part 8 and <br />Section 36-132 are the legislative mandates to the State Board of <br />Health directing that body to prescribe rules and regulations in the <br />field of sewage treatment. Such rules were adopted by the Board on <br />August 17, 1962. <br /> <br />Activities <br /> <br />The State Department of Health establishes policy and practices <br />for the control of health hazards and general promotion of the public <br />health. Its jurisdiction extends to the protection of water supplies <br />and the prevention of streaJll pollution. Powers of the Department <br />include the making of regulations and prescribing minimum standards <br />for design of sewage collection and disposal systems and the control <br />of waste therefrom. For unlimited use, reclaimed or salvage water <br />must be free of health hazards and safe for discharge into the uncon- <br />trolled environment. This is becoming a more pressing criterion in <br />water pollution control activities, as time goes by. <br /> <br />The State Game and Fish Commission. This agency is responsible <br />for the management, maintenance and enhancement of the game and fish <br />resources of the State. This Commission administers fish and wild- <br />life regulations and may acquix'e by various means lands and the use <br />of waters for use as game farms, refuges, hunting groundS, fish <br />hatcheries and other purposes. It is authorized to prevent stream <br />pollution injurious to fish or wildlife and may engage in projects <br />connected with lakes and streams for the benefit of fish and wild- <br />life uses. <br /> <br />In Arizona the water laws follow the doctrine of prior appropri- <br />ation in establishing rights to the use of surface water. The Arizona <br /> <br />2 <br />