Governor Hobbs Announces Over $60 Million Investment to Protect Arizona’s Water

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Phoenix, AZ ~ Phoenix, AZ - In a press conference today, Governor Katie Hobbs announced a significant investment of $60.3 million to address Arizona's pressing water challenges. The investment will focus on conservation, infrastructure upgrades, and water resiliency to ensure the state's water supply is protected for future generations.

Governor Hobbs emphasized the importance of taking action now to secure Arizona's water future. "Not only is my administration driving key policy reforms, I'm committed to making investments that protect water for every Arizonan and ensure our communities have the resources they need to continue growing for generations to come," she stated.

The investment includes $14.6 million for the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) Water Conservation Grant Fund. This fund will support conservation projects across the state, including rural water solutions and long-term sustainable supplies. WIFA has already funded over 150 projects with $200 million previously allocated by the state.

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Additionally, $12.3 million will be allocated to support disadvantaged water systems through the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). This funding will provide technical support and infrastructure improvements to ensure reliable and clean drinking water for small public water systems.

To combat PFAS "forever chemicals" contamination in water supplies, an additional $5 million will be provided to ADEQ. This doubles their funding to identify and remediate these harmful chemicals that threaten Arizona communities' water supplies.

The City of Buckeye will receive $12 million in state funds to expand renewable water supplies through infrastructure improvements. This includes enhancing the reuse and recharge of effluent as part of their commitment to achieve a 100-year Alternative Designation of Assured Water Supply (ADAWS) for sustainability and growth.

In rural areas, new groundwater index wells will be installed with a budget of $7 million. These wells will help track declining aquifer levels and inform effective water management strategies for these communities.

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Scientific studies in groundwater basins facing water level declines will also be conducted with a budget of $5.5 million. This data will be crucial for aquifer management and assist the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) in building groundwater models and tools to protect water resources.

An investment of $3.49 million will be made at ADWR to utilize advanced technology such as satellite monitoring, gravity surveys, and GPS technology to improve aquifer management and water demand data collection.

Lastly, $500,000 will be allocated to the ADEQ for wastewater contamination cleanup in rural areas. This funding will help track and replace failing wastewater disposal systems to prevent contamination of water supplies.

Governor Hobbs is dedicated to finding innovative solutions to Arizona's water challenges. These investments not only protect critical resources but also promote environmental and economic sustainability for the state's future. It is important to note that these ARPA dollars are not affected by the ongoing federal funding freeze.

For more information on these water investments, visit the Overview of Water Investments page on the state's website.

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