Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has signed legislation that makes an unprecedented $1 billion investment in water conservation, efficiency, reuse, and importing through the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA).
“Today, we are taking a bold step to do what the men and women of Arizona hired us to do — position our state for success today, tomorrow, and for generations to come,” said Ducey. “This legislation is crucial for our continued growth and prosperity.”
The plan to secure Arizona’s water future invests $1 billion over three years to fund projects that will bring additional water to the state.
The legislation appropriates more than $1 billion to WIFA and expands it with new responsibilities to provide loans and grants to water providers and entities for the purposes of importing water into Arizona, conservation, efficiency and reuses, and new technologies.
WIFA will continue to finance the design and construction of water and wastewater infrastructure projects using federal and state funds. Now with the expansion, WIFA will pursue augmentation and conservation projects with a new board structure appointed jointly by the Arizona Legislature and Governor Ducey.
“Challenges bring opportunity,” said Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke. “This expansion of WIFA creates an opportunity for the state to secure its water future. I want to thank Governor Ducey, the Arizona Legislature, and stakeholders for coming together to collaboratively come up with this important legislation.”
Senate Bill 1740 gives the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) additional authority and tools that will empower the state to be proactive in bringing in new water sources.
This bill will allow the state to make significant investments in water conservation and technologies such as desalination, as well as identify and develop new innovative long-term water sources. WIFA will administer additional funds for water augmentation, supply development, conservation projects, and more.
Through the funds, WIFA will have the ability to acquire, store and sell new imported water as well as engage in private-public partnerships to help enable these projects.
