Phoenix is negotiating with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to give up some of the city’s allotment of Colorado River water in exchange for hundreds of millions of dollars.
If approved, this would be the second such deal. In May 2023,Phoenix leaders agreed to a smaller allotment for three years in exchange for $60 million.
The new deal could net Phoenix up to $300 million. It's part of the Bureau of Reclamation's efforts to incentivize long-term conservation. In Phoenix’s case, Water Services director Troy Hayes says the deal involves an advanced water purification plant at the future North Gateway Water Reclamation Facility.
“We are planning on doing these facilities anyways and if the federal government wants to help us to construct that, that’s going to be a great thing for our rate payers,” he said.
On Wednesday, the City Council voted to allow the Water Services Department to enter into an agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation. Hayes said he is hopeful an agreement will be reached within the next couple months.
“We'll get a facility that will be generating water drinking water that we'll be able to put into our system and in exchange we will give some of our Colorado River allotment to the Bureau of Reclamation to leave on the lake,” he said.
The new facility, estimated to cost $570 million, would purify wastewater with the goal of providing a drought resilient supply. According to a city council report, it would be capable of producing more than 7,500 acre feet per year of potable water in perpetuity.
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s website says advanced water purification technologies play a crucial role in water conservation:
“By treating and purifying wastewater, these technologies enable the reuse of water that would otherwise be discharged to the environment. By going this extra mile, we can use highly treated wastewater by subjecting it to additional advanced treatment and make it safe to drink. This process reduces the demand on freshwater sources, and promotes a more sustainable water supply.”
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On Sept. 8, KJZZ water reporter Alex Hager presented your questions and concerns to a panel of experts.
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