Arizona Expands PFAS Strategy with $5M in New Funding

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has launched a major expansion of its statewide PFAS investigation and mitigation efforts, signaling continued regulatory momentum that industry stakeholders should closely track.

On June 5, 2025, ADEQ announced it received an additional $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from Governor Katie Hobbs to support a new round of sampling and remediation focused on groundwater, surface water, and fish tissue. This follows a 2023 investment of the same amount that enabled broad testing of small public water systems across Arizona.

Targeted Groundwater Monitoring at High-Risk Sites Using data collected from every Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund (WQARF) site with known groundwater contamination between 2022 and 2024, ADEQ has identified six high-priority locations for enhanced PFAS monitoring. Each site will undergo:

• Sampling of up to 20 existing monitoring wells,

• Installation of four new monitoring wells,

• Detailed site-specific investigation reports, and

• Local outreach, including community meetings.

Broader Environmental Scope: Surface Water and Fish Tissue 

This round of funding also marks a shift toward multimedia sampling—an approach that will assess PFAS contamination in surface waters and aquatic life. This expansion is consistent with ADEQ’s proactive strategy to stay ahead of federal regulatory developments and enhance transparency around potential exposure pathways.

Progress from 2023’s Investment 

The results from the state’s earlier $5 million investment are notable:

• 100% of initial Phase 1 testing is complete across rural small water systems.

• 94% of Phase 2 follow-up testing is done, with full completion expected by October 2025.

• 99% of tested systems are now using that data to meet EPA’s new PFAS monitoring requirements.

Additionally, ADEQ has facilitated interconnections for small systems with municipal providers, addressing not only PFAS but also other contaminants like nitrates. For example, the Town of Star Valley and the City of Globe are now supporting several smaller systems through interconnects prompted by ADEQ’s findings.

What This Means for Industry 

Arizona’s strategy positions the state as a national leader in PFAS response, and raises important considerations for regulated entities:

• Facilities near WQARF sites may face increased scrutiny.

• Future permitting and compliance obligations may include PFAS monitoring or reporting requirements.

• Businesses involved in water infrastructure, remediation, or sampling services could see increased opportunity or liability.

Although the EPA has stated its intention to extend compliance deadlines and reconsider limits on the four types of PFAS not designated as hazardous under CERCLA, Arizona shows no intention of rolling back its regulatory momentum.

Stay Informed 

To understand how Arizona’s evolving PFAS strategy could affect your facility or operations, reach out to our environmental compliance team. Staying ahead of these developments will be key to managing risk and seizing opportunity in a changing regulatory environment.