As Arizona grapples with water scarcity, a state agency is evaluating innovative solutions to bolster its water reserves. This initiative comes in response to a call for water augmentation strategies.
The Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA) issued a request for proposals last year, aiming to secure new water sources. Six proposals have been submitted, marking a pivotal step in the state’s water management efforts.
“Today’s announcement represents significant progress in WIFA’s mission to advance water augmentation projects that help secure Arizona’s water future,” said Ted Cooke, Chairman of the Long Term Water Augmentation Fund Committee, in a statement. “The receipt of these offers proves that there is capacity and capability to develop new, renewable water supplies for Arizona and that WIFA’s process for ensuring that we approach any investment in generational water infrastructure with a sound, methodical approach is working.”
In 2022, under former Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, the Arizona Legislature expanded WIFA’s funding to attract significant augmentation projects. Ducey’s administration had envisioned possibly collaborating with Mexico on a desalination plant.
With a billion-dollar commitment over three years, WIFA was poised for action. However, this financial backing was significantly reduced when Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and a new legislature took office in 2023, raising concerns about the feasibility of large-scale projects.
WIFA warned that reduced funding could hinder its ability to attract companies for new water supply projects. Nevertheless, the current proposals include several desalination initiatives aimed at using ocean water to create a renewable supply for Arizona.
Among the six proposals submitted, four originate from EPCOR, Arizona’s largest private water utility, while the remaining two focus on desalination, spearheaded by Acciona-Fengate Water Augmentation Alliance and ZARETAW.
Governor Hobbs has indicated that desalination remains a viable option and criticized Ducey for lacking diplomatic engagement with Mexico on the matter.
In 2022, Ducey’s administration had already initiated discussions with Israeli firm IDE about a potential desalination plant in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez. However, these talks faced backlash due to transparency issues and allegations of clandestine negotiations.
The government of Sonora, Mexico, where the plant was proposed, voiced its opposition to IDE, accusing the company of misrepresenting agreements.
Notably, Erez Hoter-Ishay, formerly IDE’s project manager, is now at the helm of ZARETAW. Despite IDE Technologies not being listed as a direct applicant, ZARETAW and IDE Technologies have identified themselves as a “project team” in their joint proposal to WIFA.
EPCOR’s non-desalination proposals to WIFA include plans related to surface water, wastewater reclamation, and other water sources, all aiming to address Arizona’s critical water challenges.
The urgency of addressing Arizona’s water supply issues has grown due to prolonged drought and excessive groundwater extraction. WIFA’s spokesman, Ben Alteneder, has indicated that the agency plans to make a decision on one or more proposals by December 1.
—
Read More Arizona News
