Arizona Lawmakers Push to Extend Water Recycling Program Funding

A new legislative effort is gaining traction in Arizona as Congressman Juan Ciscomani partners with Nevada Congresswoman Susie Lee to push for an extension of a key water recycling initiative. This bipartisan move aims to ensure continued funding for the Large Scale Water Recycling Program, a project vital to supporting water conservation in the western United States.

Initially launched in 2021, the program is approaching its expiration in the upcoming year. Ciscomani, emphasizing the urgency, stated, “Water is the lifeblood of Arizona. As we face worsening drought in Arizona, I am proud to co-lead this critical legislation which will help Western communities, like Southern Arizona, bolster their conservation efforts through water recycling efforts.”

Of the original $450 million federal allocation, $125 million remains available for states to utilize in water reuse projects, contingent on local funding matches. A significant portion of the grants has already been earmarked for a new advanced purification facility in Phoenix, which will convert wastewater into potable water.

The impending expiration means the bill must be renewed by the year’s end to prevent a gap in the program’s operations. If the reauthorization is successful, it will extend the initiative for an additional decade.

Gabbi Scheitelman, Ciscomani’s deputy chief of staff, highlighted the congressman’s perspective, stating, “In the congressman’s view, any conservation anywhere in the Colorado River basin benefits the whole basin because when one state is being more efficient, that obviously is beneficial for the whole basin.”

Research from UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability indicates that Nevada and Arizona lead the Lower Basin states in wastewater reuse, with Nevada reusing up to 85% and Arizona about 52%. Ciscomani has underscored these statistics in promoting the reauthorization bill.

Notably, Scheitelman mentioned that although the recycling program is distinct from the ongoing Colorado River negotiations, Ciscomani’s role as co-chair of the Colorado River Caucus positions him to advocate for Arizona’s conservation leadership. “The congressman does want to be able to highlight and support the ongoing efforts that Arizona is already doing,” Scheitelman added.