Governor Katie Hobbs speaking with attendees at the 2024 Legislative Forecast Luncheon hosted by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.
Governor Katie Hobbs is moving forward on her State of State promise to protect Arizona’s water security, announcing $60.3 million in investments for conservation, infrastructure upgrades and resiliency efforts statewide.
“Arizona’s water future depends on taking action today,” she said in a statement Tuesday. “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.”
The investments include:
$14.6 million for the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) Water Conservation Grant Fund to support statewide conservation projects including in rural areas and long-term sustainable supplies.
$12.3 million to support small and disadvantaged public water systems through the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) for technical support and infrastructure improvements.
$5 million to combat per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which doubles ADEQ’s funding to address “forever chemicals” in statewide communities’ water supplies.
$12 million for renewable water infrastructure in Buckeye, allowing the city to use effluent, to achieve a 100-year Alternative Designation of Assured Water Supply (ADAWS).
$7 million for groundwater monitoring wells in rural areas to help track declining aquifer levels and inform water management strategies.
$5.5 million for hydrogeologic studies in groundwater basins facing water level declines that will inform the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) build models and tools for solutions.
$3.49 million for advanced water monitoring technology and data collection at the ADWR to utilize satellite monitoring, gravity surveys and GPS technology to improve aquifer management and data collection.
$500,000 for wastewater contamination cleanup which ADEQ will utilize to track and replace wastewater disposal systems in rural areas.
These American Rescue Plan Act (APRA) dollars are not affected by the Trump Administration’s federal funding freeze.
An overview of the water investments is available on the governor’s website.
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