EPA awards $2.5 million to Arizona for water restoration

PHOENIX (AP) - The Environmental Protection Agency will invest more than $2 million in water restoration projects in Arizona.

The federal agency announced Friday that it is awarding $2.5 million to the state to help restore water quality in polluted surface water.

According to the EPA, recent data indicates a significant percentage of Arizona's lakes and streams fail to meet water quality standards.

E. coli bacteria, pesticides, fertilizers and metals are the primary reasons for pollution in surface water in the state.

Pollutants can often be transmitted by runoff from irrigation, storm activity and recreational facilities such as golf courses.