Wastewater Division

Mission Statement

Our mission is to protect public health and the environment for our community by collecting, transporting, recycling, and treating wastewater in a safe, reliable, efficient, and environmentally responsible manner, while providing excellent service to our customers. We put our mission into action by:

Public Notice March 26, 2025

Subject: Proper Disposal of Oils, Fats, Grease, and Hazardous Substances in the Town Sewer System

Dear Residents, the Town of Camp Verde is committed to maintaining a safe and efficient sewer system for all residents. To ensure the continued health of our wastewater infrastructure and compliance with town codes and ordinances, we kindly remind you that it is strictly prohibited to discharge large quantities of oils, diesel fluids, fats, grease, or any other substances that can cause clogs, damage the sewer system, or interfere with wastewater treatment processes. 

Improper disposal of these substances can have serious consequences, including:

• Blockages in sewer lines, leading to costly repairs and potential sewage backups into homes and streets
• Disruptions in the biological treatment process at the wastewater facility, where essential microorganisms break down sewage. These microorganisms are vital for wastewater treatment, and an imbalance caused by harmful substances can reduce treatment efficiency and increase operational costs. 
• Potential harm to wastewater treatment plant operators due to hazardous materials, such as needles and medications, which should never be flushed down toilets or poured into drains.

Unfortunately, recently a significant amount of petroleum was illegally dumped and flushed into the sewer system. This created a micro-biological kill of essential microorganisms responsible for processing sewage. This incident has severely impacted wastewater treatment operations and posed serious environmental and safety risks. Disposing of diesel fuel in this manner is not only dangerous but also illegal and subject to penalties.

To help protect our sewer system and ensure its longevity, please follow these proper disposal practices:

• Dispose of used cooking oils, fats, and grease in a sealed container and place it in the trash.
• Take used motor oil, diesel, and other hazardous fluids to an appropriate recycling or disposal facility. 
• Use designated medication disposal programs rather than flushing pharmaceuticals down the drain. 
• Properly dispose of sharp objects such as needles in approved sharps containers and take them to a designated disposal site.

Your cooperation helps us keep the sewer system functioning efficiently, protects our community's environment, and reduces maintenance costs. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to maintaining a clean and safe wastewater system.

For further information on proper disposal methods or to report concerns, please contact the Camp Verde Utilities Department at 928-554-0850 or email to utilities@campverde.az.gov.

Thank you for your cooperation and dedication to our town's well-being.

Sincerely, Chet Teague, Wastewater Division Manager

chet.teague@campverde.az.gov        928-592-7888

Department Goals

The Wastewater Division management and personnel constantly strive to evaluate and upgrade our current wastewater system and implement the safest and most cost-effective means of wastewater collection and treatment, while satisfying the needs of the community.

The Wastewater Division employs 7 full-time positions. These employees manage, maintain, and operate Camp Verde’s wastewater treatment and collection systems.

• For all sewer permits, billing or general questions please contact 928-554-0850 or email us.

• An on-call pump operator is available for after-hours emergencies by calling 928-301-7486.

Backwater Valves
A backwater valve is a one-way valve that is installed on the building’s “Private Sewer Line” or the lateral sewer line. A professionally installed and maintained backwater valve will prevent the lateral sewer line from backing up with sewage entering the building. The requirements for installation can be found in International Building Code. In support of this code, all structures connected to the Town sewer system require an approved backwater valve.
Collection System
The Wastewater Division operates and maintains 24 miles of publicly owned sewer mains. The system includes 526 manholes. Town crews are responsible to spray manholes for roaches, unplug sewer main stoppages, and to clean and inspect sewer mains.  The Town does not maintain the customer’s sewer lateral. The customer is responsible for the lateral up to the main and including the tap. Any problems on the customer’s side should be handled by a licensed contractor or plumber.
Preventative Sewer Line Maintenance
The Wastewater Division team is responsible for the implementation of the Sewer Line Preventative Maintenance Program. By using historical data and a variety of specialized cleaning equipment, the entire collection system is cleaned a minimum of every three years. A number of line segments are cleaned more frequently due to tree roots, fats, oils, grease, and pipe condition.
		Maintenance needs of the collection system are determined by an internal video inspection of the pipes. Wastewater Division crews routinely inspect sewer main line conditions in the collection system utilizing Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) equipment. Video inspections are performed to evaluate existing pipe conditions, verify cleaning efficiency, locate private sewer connections, and provide justification for Capital Improvement Projects to repair or replace old and damaged sewer main lines. These videos are then preserved in the Town’s Computer Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
Wastewater Treatment
The Town of Camp Verde operates and maintains one  extended aeration Aero-Mod-style wastewater treatment plant. Since November 22, 2021, we have been providing Class A+ Effluent water using cloth filters and a UV system for polishing with a backup chlorine contact chamber. The plant is located at 880 S Cowboy Trail, Camp Verde AZ 86322 We also use and maintain two lift stations are responsible for 23.93 miles of piping maintain and service 526 man holes process 88.3 MG of sewage annually remove 112.22 tons of BOD and 16.59 tons of Ammonia removed on an annual basis. Learn about the important role these tiny creatures play in our wastewater with our Bacteria of the Month series           Here is a video that explains the process of treating wastewater and what is happening at each stage of the process. It is really interesting and fun at the same time. It's a great watch! Do you have a Pool or Spa? As we approach the end of the swim season here is the way to drain your pool/spa legally and environmentally friendly.

Stormwater Division

Mission Statement

The mission of the Storm Water Division is to provide environmental protection, minimize the impacts to citizens, public and private property due to flooding and sediment runoff. Promote public health and safety through the implementation of storm water regulations, public education, policies and best practices.

ADEQ Encourages Arizonans to Recreate Responsibly to Protect Arizona’s Waterways Over Holiday Weekend (This is good advice any time you are outdoors)

In partnership with Leave No Trace, ADEQ reminds Arizonans to keep rivers, lakes, and streams clean this holiday weekend.

PHOENIX (May 20, 2025) — As Memorial Day weekend approaches and Arizonans head outdoors to enjoy the state’s rivers, lakes, and streams, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), in partnership with Leave No Trace, is launching a new statewide public education campaign – Arizona Water Keepers – to promote responsible recreation and protect Arizona’s water quality.

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of Arizona’s summer recreation season – a time when large crowds, heavy foot traffic, and improper waste disposal can threaten water quality at some of the state’s most beloved outdoor destinations.

“The impact of one weekend can linger all summer if we’re not careful,” said ADEQ Water Quality Division Director Trevor Baggiore. “Trash left behind and human or pet waste that isn’t properly handled can introduce harmful bacteria like E. coli into the water. The good news is: the solution is simple, and everyone can be a part of it.”

ADEQ’s Arizona Water Keepers campaign encourages the public to follow four easy steps:

• Get Ready – Bring a trash bag, check for algal blooms, and come prepared with sun protection and clean drinking water.
• Have a Poop Plan – Use restrooms or human waste bags and always pack out pet waste. Waste left behind spreads bacteria like E. coli that pollute water.
• Keep it Clean, Keep it Clear – Don’t wash in the water and avoid using soaps or lotions that harm aquatic life.
• Slow Erosion, Stay on Trail – Stick to marked paths to protect vegetation and reduce erosion into streams.

These small actions add up and create real results. Over the past five years, ADEQ has worked on a multi-pronged effort to improve the health of Oak Creek, outside of Sedona. These efforts related to being an Oak Creek Caretaker have achieved a 54 percent reduction in baseline levels of E. coli in the water, making the creek healthier for all to enjoy.

Please visit ADEQ’s Arizona Water Keepers webpage for more information azdeq.gov/waterkeeper.

 Yavapai County Free Slash Drop Off Days

Yavapai County has announced their free slash drop off days at the Camp Verde Transfer Station for Spring 2025. Free slash drop off is an effort to reduce the amount of kindling around our homes for safety during the upcoming fire season. 

Storm Water Management Plan

The Town of Camp Verde has one of the last Arizona rivers that flows year round: the Verde River. Within the Camp Verde Town limits, the Verde River watershed includes Beaver Creek and Clear Creek. The Town of Camp Verde, through adoption of our Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP), strives to reduce the discharge of pollutants by working to protect and satisfy appropriate water quality requirements of the Clean Water Act. The Town will periodically publish updates to this website that address implementation of Best Management Practices (BMP’s) and measurable goals required by the Plan. Currently we are in the process of updating our SWMP, when the new version is available we will have it posted on our website and welcome comments and suggestions. You are invited to look at the SWMP at the above link and email Patty with any suggestions or comments. Thank you for being a part of the process!

Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Program

This is a program whose purpose is preventing, locating, identifying, reporting, mitigating and permanently removing illicit discharges of anything but stormwater into the Town of Camp Verde Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System. If you see something draining into a stormwater drain or street that is not stormwater please let us know by filling out this form or call the Stormwater Division at 928-554-0824 or email Patty. It's a team effort to keep our Verde River clean, thank you for doing your part!

Area Drainage Master Study Results are in! 

The Town of Camp Verde Area Drainage Master Study has been completed and the Results are in! Please take a moment to look at this document so you will know the areas that will be prioritized and what the impact of the improvements in those areas will be. Thank you for all the public input to help us devise a solid list of projects to improve the lives of citizens of Camp Verde through Stormwater flooding mitigation.

To continue to assist the Town and the project team in development with regard to flood mitigation, please visit our project website to learn more about the project, fill out the drainage survey and check out our Virtual Meeting Room. The Virtual Meeting Room has been developed as an alternative to an in-person meeting an houses exhibits, maps, the Survey and more.  Additionally, please visit the Flood Hazard GIS Page developed from the Area Drainage Master Plan.  The page details flood prone and flood velocity hazard areas throughout the Town.

ADEQ

2018-2019 MS4 Annual Report

2019-2020 MS4 Annual Report

2020-2021 MS4 Annual Report

2021-2022 MS4 Annual Report

2022-2023 MS4 Annual Report

2023-2024 MS4 Annual Report

MS4 Master Permit

Town of Camp Verde Stormwater Town Policy

Town of Camp Verde Summer Camp Adventures with Stormwater

5/30/24 Week 1: Kinder-3rd Grade: Clouds, Water Walking Experiment  4th-6th Grade: Clear Creek Water Testing - We had so much Fun at Camp Day One of Adventures with Stormwater!

    Cloud fun project          Creek Testing

 6/13/24 Week 3: Kinder-3rd Grade: A Fish's Wish Book, Water Conservation Super Hero Name Fun4th-6th Grade: Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour and Education Adventure

Water Conservation Super Hero Name                        Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour Adventure 

6/27/24 Week 5: Kinder-3rd Grade: Water Around the World Demonstration, Bracelets that show all the water in the world and what is accessible for us to use 4th-6th Grade: Faucet and Effluent Water Testing                 

7/11/24 Week 7: Kinder-3rd Grade: Macroinvertebrate Demonstration   4th-6th Grade: Macroinvertebrate Demonstration  We learned about Macroinvertebrates, big thanks to our friends Lauren and Meghan from ADEQ! Here are a bunch of pictures to show you learning really CAN be FUN!!

7/18/24 Week 8: Kinder-3rd Grade: Water Conservation Book  4th-6th Grade: Graphing and data analysis from Clear Creek, faucet and effluent testing events

 Water Conservation     Our Last Day, What does it all mean. We learned what the data we collected in the three different water sources mean for the ecosystem. Thank You Mr. Chet!

 It was a wonderful Summer Camp Season and I give a big thank you to all the kids for their attention and interest in Water and Conservation of this Valuable Resource!

Plant the Rain! Rain Garden Information to keep our stormwater here when it rains!

 

Water Conservation 

The Town of Camp Verde is Proud to have hosted a two part series on Rainwater Harvesting and Raingarden Design and Installation called "Think Like a Raindrop". The series was facilitated by The Watershed Management Group in Tucson and made possible through a generous grant from ASU. In this workshop we learned the theory of Rainwater Harvesting both passive, (Shaping the landscape to encourage absorption) and active, (The use of rain barrel catchment). We also learned first hand how to install both of these techniques of rainwater harvesting to drastically reduce the amount of groundwater needed for outdoor use.  *It should also be noted that APS graciously donated five 15 gallon trees. I'm so grateful to all our sponsors.

Online Session 1: Was a two hour online overview of concepts of rainwater harvesting and raingarden installation. The class was recorded for your viewing by clicking the following link:

Town of Camp Verde Rainwater Harvesting Session One

In-Person Session 2: Was a hands-on session where we installed a rain barrel, a raingarden, berms, a swale, and a media luna, (Redirects focused flows and disperses them to reduce erosion). Capacity for this class was 30 and we had 33 participants! Under the guidance of the Watershed Management Group, we successfully installed an 1,100 gallon rain barrel. One of the most inspiring parts of the workshop was learning about how the Watershed Management Group building functions without using any groundwater at all. They have set up an impressive system with composting toilets, underground water catchment, and rain barrels around the building. Even more impressive is that NONE of the water goes to waste. Gray water from showers, handwashing stations and laundry is all redirected to irrigate an on-site orchard.

During our class session 2, we installed a raingarden using native and/or drought-resistant plants and trees. Class discussions included thoughtful plant and tree placement within the rain garden based upon the unique water requirements of each plant.

We also learned three different rock-stacking techniques, each with its own purpose. The first was building a small retention wall to help reduce soil erosion from the higher points in the rain garden. The second was the use of check dams in the swale to slow water and help it absorb into the soil, especially just beyond where the trees are planted so that slightly more water remains and the thirstier plants can thrive. My favorite technique was the media luna (Half moon). This structure has a fan shaped design to disperse concentrated, fast-moving stormwater runoff. It effectively mitigates rill erosion by decreasing the force of the runoff and dispersing the lower intensity water flows over a wider area, and ultimately enhancing soil absorption.

We spent time observing the landscape and learning how to guide rainfall for maximum absorption. Instruction included calculating rooftop runoff to determine the size requirement of your rain barrel to maximize yearly rainfall amount capture.

About the Rainwater Harvesting and Raingarden at the Teal Building: The raingarden and rainwater harvesting techniques will be implemented at the Teal Building, which is set to become a hub for stormwater innovation, education and conservation. This space will allow people to learn about drought-resistant plants and rainwater harvesting methods that they can use in their own yards, promoting responsible management of Stormwater. Visitors will have the opportunity to observe how using rainwater as the primary source for garden irrigation impacts plant growth. Additionally, the center will raise awareness about the differences between groundwater and rainwater, fostering discussions on water conservation and highlighting the importance of capturing and utilizing every drop of rain to enhance groundwater storage, ensuring the health of the water supply in our area. If you would like to see and learn about the raingarden and rain barrel catchment system and how to install these at your home please call Patty at 928-554-0824 to schedule. Currently there are grants for both residential and commercial properties for Rainwater Harvesting through The Friends of the Verde River. 

Press Release for the Rainwater Harvesting Class

8-12-25: An article was published this week by ASU highlighting the rainwater harvesting classes held at the DROP Building in March and April of this year. Here is a link for your perusal.

 How Much Water Does Your Garden Need to Thrive? Here is a comprehensive guide to calculating the precise amount of water your garden needs, eliminating over or under watering. This will save money in your monthly water bill as well replacement of plants due to watering issues.

 Free SRP AZ Water-Wise Kits available to all residents. The Water-Wise Kits contain several different water saving items for your home such as low water use shower and faucet parts, just to mention a few. For the complete list of all the free items available to you and how to order them, click on the link here.

Extreme Drought Conditions Declaration Issued by the US National Weather Service for the Flagstaff and surrounding areas. Yavapai County is included in this declaration. You can read the statement here. Please read and implement some of the water saving tips that follow on this page. Water is life, without it there is no life. Please do your part to keep the water flowing. 

 Imagine a day without water.  Take this test to calculate your water footprint. The US Water Alliance has set up October 17th as a day to Imagine a Day Without Water, but this is a good exercise for any day. Just think about the importance water has in all of our lives. Our bodies are primarily made up of water which is a clue as to how integral it is to sustaining our lives. It is also vital to grow the foods we eat and sustain the plants and animals as well. For more on Imagine a Day Without Water Click here.

 What are some ways I can conserve water?

To Conserve Water Outside:

* Plant low-water use, non-invasive and drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees.

* Minimize turf/grass areas.

* Check all hoses, connectors, and spigots regularly and repair any leaks as necessary.

* Install a water-efficient drip irrigation system.

* Adjust sprinklers so only landscape is watered and not the house, sidewalk or street.

* Minimize evaporation by watering during the early morning hours when temperatures are cooler.

To Conserve Water Inside:

* Check faucets and pipes for leaks and repair or replace as necessary.

* Replace high-volume toilets (3.5 gallons or more per flush), with the new standard of 1.6 gallons per flush.

* Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they have a full load.

* Choose water-saving models when purchasing new appliances.

* Make sure each faucet has an aerator.

* Install water-saving showerheads or flow restrictors and keep showers under 5 minutes.

For a fun game with activities that teach about water click on the link on the left hand side of this screen where it says "Check out this fun game".

If you would like some more information regarding Water Conservation please visit AZWater.gov for some great information.

Thank you so much for your interest in Water Conservation to ensure we will have clean, flowing water far into the future. 

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