Arizona advances four major desalination and water importation projects – Smart Water Magazine

Arizona Advances Water Augmentation Projects in Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Project Overview and Contribution to SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA) has initiated a critical study phase for four water importation proposals under its Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund (LTWAF) program. This strategic initiative directly addresses Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by aiming to secure new, reliable, and sustainable water supplies for the state. The advancement of these projects, which include large-scale desalination concepts, represents a significant step towards ensuring the long-term availability and sustainable management of water resources for Arizona’s communities.

Selected Proposals and Technological Innovation (SDG 9)

Following a competitive selection process that began with seventeen initial qualifications, WIFA has chosen proposals from two specialized teams. This focus on advanced water solutions aligns with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by promoting investment in resilient and innovative infrastructure. The selected proposals for the study phase are:

1. Gulf of California Desalination and Binational Conveyance (ACCIONA-Fengate Water Augmentation Alliance)
2. Northern Gulf of California Desalination Facility (EPCOR Water Innovation Partners)
3. South Bay Potable Water Reuse (EPCOR Water Innovation Partners)
4. California Groundwater Storage and Recovery (EPCOR Water Innovation Partners)

Comprehensive Evaluation Framework for Sustainable Outcomes (SDG 11 & 13)

The study phase is designed to conduct a thorough analysis of the proposals to ensure they contribute to the creation of sustainable and resilient communities, in line with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). By evaluating multiple concepts, the state aims to identify a project or combination of projects that offers maximum benefit and resilience against climate-induced water stress. The evaluation criteria include:

• Engineering feasibility and technical viability
• Sustainable financial approaches and models
• Comprehensive environmental considerations and impact assessments
• Permitting requirements and regulatory pathways
• Community feedback and social impact

Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration for Goal Achievement (SDG 17)

This initiative exemplifies the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through its collaborative approach. The analysis and decision-making process will involve extensive engagement with a diverse group of stakeholders. This partnership model is essential for developing holistic and widely supported long-term water strategies. Key collaborators include:

• Regional governments
• Public and private water agencies
• Potential water purchasers
• Community stakeholders

This multi-stakeholder engagement ensures that the final water augmentation strategy is not only technically sound but also equitable and aligned with the broader goals of sustainable development for Arizona.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on Arizona’s water importation proposals connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focused on water, infrastructure, and collaboration.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: This is the most central SDG, as the entire article revolves around Arizona’s efforts to “secure new, reliable water supplies” to address water scarcity. The projects, including desalination and water reuse, directly aim to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: The article details the advancement of “four water importation proposals” which are large-scale infrastructure projects. The focus on developing new facilities like desalination plants and conveyance systems aligns with building resilient infrastructure to support community well-being.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The initiative is a collaborative effort. The article highlights the partnership between a state entity, the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA), and private sector teams like the “ACCIONA-Fengate Water Augmentation Alliance” and “EPCOR Water Innovation Partners.” This public-private partnership is crucial for financing and implementing the projects.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s focus, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Under SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation):
   • Target 6.1: Achieve access to safe and affordable drinking water. The state’s effort to secure “new, reliable water supplies” is a direct action towards ensuring long-term water availability for its population.
   • Target 6.3: Improve water quality by increasing recycling and safe reuse. The proposal for “South Bay Potable Water Reuse” by EPCOR is a clear example of an initiative aimed at achieving this target.
   • Target 6.4: Substantially increase water-use efficiency and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. The entire LTWAF program is designed to address water scarcity through augmentation projects like desalination and storage.
   • Target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management, including through transboundary cooperation. The proposals for desalination in the “Gulf of California” imply transboundary cooperation with Mexico, which is essential for managing shared water resources.
2. Under SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure):
   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure. The article focuses on advancing “multiple large-scale desalination concepts” and conveyance systems, which are critical pieces of resilient water infrastructure designed for long-term reliability.
3. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The selection of proposals from private teams (ACCIONA-Fengate, EPCOR) by a state authority (WIFA) exemplifies the public-private partnership model for achieving sustainable development goals.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

While the article does not cite official SDG indicators, it contains information that can serve as practical, project-level indicators to measure progress:

• Number of new water supply projects under development: The article explicitly states that WIFA has “advanced four water importation proposals… into the study phase.” This number serves as a direct indicator of progress in developing new water infrastructure (relevant to SDG 9.1).
• Diversification of water sources: The types of projects mentioned—”desalination,” “potable water reuse,” and “groundwater storage and recovery”—indicate progress towards diversifying the water portfolio to increase resilience and address scarcity (relevant to SDG 6.4).
• Establishment of public-private partnerships: The article names the two private teams selected (“ACCIONA-Fengate Water Augmentation Alliance” and “EPCOR Water Innovation Partners”), indicating the formation of partnerships to advance water security goals (relevant to SDG 17.17).
• Investment in water augmentation: The existence of the “Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund (LTWAF) program” itself is an indicator of financial commitment towards securing long-term water supplies (relevant to SDG 6 and SDG 9).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: smartwatermagazine.com