Catalyzes electroneutral exchange between L-arginine and L-ornithine (PubMed:23144255, PubMed:26324452). Can also efficiently translocate L-histidine and L-lysine (PubMed:26324452). ArcD1 is the main L-arginine/L-ornithine exchanger in the arginine deiminase (ADI) pathway (PubMed:26324452). L-arginine(out) + L-ornithine(in) = L-arginine(in) + L-ornithine(out) Deletion results in loss of the growth advantage observed in the presence of high L-arginine in different growth media. Belongs to the amino acid-polyamine-organocation (APC) superfamily. Basic amino acid/polyamine antiporter (APA) (TC 2.A.3.2) family.