Additional Resources
ADEQ MAP Homepage:
www.azdeq.gov/environ/water/dw/map.html
Arizona Administrative Code
Safe Drinking Water Rules:
www.azsos.gov/public_services/Title_18/
18-04.htm
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Consumer Information - Safe Water:
water.epa.gov/drink/info/index.cfm
If the MAP sample results in an MCL or
reporting limit exceedance, will I be
notified?
If your sample has an MCL exceedance
you will be contacted directly by the con-tracted
MAP laboratory to schedule a time
for the MAP sampler to collect a confirma-tion
sample (with the exception of nitrate
and nitrite as these acute contaminants
have a 24 hour window in which the
confirmation sample is to be taken). Any
MCL or reporting limit exceedances also will
be identified on the drinking water reporting
forms you receive from the laboratory.
MAP will continue to sample the EPDS
according to the baseline schedule. The
system, however, is responsible for con-ducting
increased monitoring resulting
from an MCL exceedance and should con-tact
the appropriate ADEQ rule specialist
for assistance.
How does a water system qualify for
waivers or reduced monitoring?
If the water system’s results remain below
the applicable MCL and reporting limit
levels for the required period of time, the
water system or EPDS will be automatically
granted reduced monitoring or waivers.
This information can also be viewed on the
MAP Web site.
Scott Steinhagen
ADEQ MAP Coordinator
1110 W. Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85007
(602) 771– 4445
toll free: (800) 234-5677 Ext: 771-4445
E-mail: wss@azdeq.gov
Mary Kaye Black
(602) 771-4518
toll free: (800) 234-5677 Ext: 771-4518
E-mail: mb13@azdeq.gov
Hearing-impaired individuals may call
our TDD line at (602) 771-4829.
Publication No: C 10-10
What is the Monitoring Assistance
Program (MAP)?
All public water systems (community and
non-transient non-community) serving
10,000 or less people, except those
owned by the state or federal government,
are required to participate in the
Monitoring Assistance Program (MAP).
Each system is charged an annual base fee
of $250 plus $2.57 per service connection.
The money is deposited into a fund which
is used to hire private contractors through
the state procurement bid process to col-lect,
transport, analyze and report results
of water quality compliance samples to the
systems and ADEQ. MAP allows water
systems to save money by contracting for
large volumes of sampling and helps to
ensure that proper water quality monitoring
is conducted.
What contaminants does MAP sample?
MAP conducts sampling for regulated inor-ganic
chemicals (IOCs), volatile organic
chemicals (VOCs), synthetic organic chem-icals
(SOCs), nitrate, nitrite, asbestos and
radionuclides. MAP does not conduct
sampling for total coliform bacteria, disin-fection
by-products, minimum residual
disinfection levels and for lead and copper.
It also does not sample in increased moni-toring
situations that result from a
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) or
reporting limit exceedance.
What is a service connection?
A service connection is defined as the
location at the meter, or in the absence of
a meter, at the curb stop or at the building
inlet. It may be thought of as where the
distribution main outside the building ends
and the building’s plumbing begins.
Can the number of service connections
in my system change?
Yes, if a new building or facility is added to
the system, or if an existing building or
facility is permanently disconnected from
the system. However, a building that is
temporarily inactive or unoccupied but
connected to the system is still considered
a service connection.
What is the total population of my public
water system?
The total population served depends on
your public water system type (community,
non-transient non-community, or transient
non-community) and on the demographics
of your consumers like household size.
Generally, most community water systems
in Arizona use a multiplier of 2.5 to 3 people
served per service connection to deter-mine
the system’s total population.
Why is population important to a MAP
system?
Population impacts the classification of a
public water system, whether a water
system is required to be in MAP, as well as
monitoring requirements for certain con-taminants.
For example, the number of
total coliform bacteria samples, lead and
copper samples, and disinfection by-prod-uct
(DBP) samples required depends upon
a water system’s
population. The
number of syn-thetic
organic
chemical (SOC)
samples required
is also deter-mined
by popu-lation
served.
Who conducts sampling not performed
by MAP?
A certified operator is a person who holds
a valid certificate issued by ADEQ in the
field of water treatment or water distribution.
The operator is responsible for making all
decisions about water quality and quantity
that may impact public health. Your certi-fied
operator most likely conducts the
required distribution system monitoring
(monthly total coliform bacteria, lead and
copper, disinfection by-products, etc). All
public water systems are required to retain
the services of a certified operator at the
grade appropriate to the system.
How can a water system determine
what its MAP sampling schedule is?
The MAP sampling schedule for each
water system can be viewed on the MAP
website. If you have any questions about
the schedule shown for your water system,
please contact MAP (see back page).
Is a visit from the MAP sampler consid-ered
an inspection by ADEQ?
No, the MAP sampler is visiting your system
only to collect required drinking water samples.
Does the MAP sampler know the correct
location of my water system’s sampling
points?
No, the contracted MAP sampler only
knows how many samples to collect and
from which entry points to the distribution
system (EPDS). It is the responsibility of
water system personnel to show the
sampler to the correct sampling points. All
MAP samples are collected from the EPDS,
which is after the source and any treat-ment
or storage, but before the distribu-tion
system and first service connection.
