16.3 Billion Gallons of Groundwater Cleaned Up

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Director Steve Owens announced that through Arizona's Superfund program, the Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund (WQARF), the State has cleaned up more than 16.3 billion gallons of contaminated groundwater in the fiscal year that ended June 30th, 2006.

In addition to the 16.3 billion gallons of contaminated groundwater that was treated during Fiscal Year 2006 (July 1st, 2005 - June 30th, 2006) under the auspices WQARF program, more than 3.4 million pounds of metals, 2,816 tons of soils & 113,945 pounds of volatile organic substances were removed from contaminated sites throughout Arizona.

Under the WQARF program ADEQ identifies, assesses & cleans up soil & groundwater that is contaminated with hazardous substances.