Arizona’s Rep. Ciscomani co-sponsors legislation to extend water recycling program – KJZZ

Legislative Initiative to Advance Sustainable Water Management and SDG 6

Bipartisan Proposal for Water Security

A bipartisan legislative effort is underway to extend federal funding for water recycling initiatives, directly addressing critical water scarcity issues in the Western United States. This initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

• Co-Sponsors: Arizona Congressman Juan Ciscomani and Nevada Congresswoman Susie Lee.
• Objective: To reauthorize the Large Scale Water Recycling Program, established in 2021 and set to expire in 2025.
• Stated Goal: To bolster conservation and water recycling efforts in communities facing worsening drought, thereby enhancing water security and building resilience in line with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Program Funding and Implementation

The program’s extension is crucial for leveraging federal funds to support large-scale water reuse projects, a key strategy for achieving SDG Target 6.3, which aims to increase recycling and safe reuse of wastewater globally.

1. Available Funding: $125 million remains from the original $450 million federal allocation.
2. Partnership Model: Federal grants must be matched by local funding, fostering collaboration as promoted by SDG 17.
3. Proposed Extension: The bill seeks to continue the program for an additional 10 years, ensuring long-term support for sustainable water infrastructure.
4. Project Example: A significant portion of the fund, nearly $180 million, has already been allocated to an advanced water purification facility in Phoenix. This project will treat wastewater to produce potable drinking water, directly contributing to a circular water economy.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

The reauthorization of this program represents a direct investment in sustainable water management practices that are essential for achieving SDG 6.

• SDG Target 6.3 (Water Quality and Reuse): The program’s focus on funding water recycling and reuse projects is a primary mechanism for increasing the proportion of safely treated and reused wastewater.
• SDG Target 6.4 (Water-Use Efficiency): By creating new sources of water from recycled wastewater, the initiative helps to reduce the strain on freshwater resources like the Colorado River, promoting sustainable withdrawals and addressing water scarcity.
• Regional Impact: Improved water conservation in any part of the Colorado River basin benefits the entire system, highlighting the interconnectedness of water resources and the need for cooperative management.

Leadership in Water Conservation and Reuse

The initiative also serves to highlight and reinforce the leadership roles of states like Arizona and Nevada in sustainable water management.

• Existing Efforts: A UCLA study indicates that Arizona already reuses approximately 52% of its treated wastewater, while Nevada reuses up to 85%, demonstrating a strong regional commitment to the principles of SDG 6.
• Strategic Importance: While not directly part of the Colorado River negotiations, the bill is intended to bolster Arizona’s position as a leader in conservation, showcasing proactive measures to ensure long-term water sustainability for its communities.

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

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• The article’s central theme is water management, specifically addressing water scarcity through recycling and reuse. It discusses efforts to “shore up the state’s water supply” in the face of “worsening drought,” which directly aligns with the goal of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The article mentions a specific project, a “purification facility in Phoenix,” which aims to treat wastewater and turn it into drinking water. This initiative is crucial for making a major city like Phoenix more resilient and sustainable, particularly regarding its water supply.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The article highlights a “bipartisan effort” between a congressman from Arizona and a congresswoman from Nevada. It also details a funding mechanism that involves federal government allocation ($450 million) and a requirement for matching local funding, exemplifying a multi-level partnership to achieve a common goal.

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

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by… substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally. The article is entirely focused on the “Large Scale Water Recycling Program” and highlights projects like the Phoenix facility that will “treat wastewater, ultimately turning it into drinking water.”
• Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency… and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. The legislation is described as a way to “bolster their conservation efforts” in response to “worsening drought,” directly addressing water scarcity and the need for efficient use.
• Target 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation. The article notes that “any conservation anywhere in the Colorado River basin benefits the whole basin,” and mentions the “Colorado River Caucus,” pointing to cooperative management of a shared water resource among multiple states.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.b: By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards… resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters. The funding for water reuse projects in cities like Phoenix is a direct implementation of a plan for resource efficiency and resilience to the impacts of drought.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article describes a partnership between federal and local governments (“must also be matched by local funding”) and a bipartisan political effort to extend the program, which is a clear example of a public-public partnership.

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

Indicators for SDG 6 Targets

• Indicator 6.3.1 (Proportion of wastewater safely treated): The article provides explicit data that can be used as an indicator. It states, “Nevada reuses as much as 85%, and Arizona reuses about 52%” of their treated wastewater. This directly measures the level of water reuse.
• Indicator 6.4.2 (Level of water stress): While not providing a specific value, the article’s repeated mention of “worsening drought” and the need to “shore up the state’s water supply” implies that the level of water stress is a key driver for the actions discussed. The success of the program would be measured by a reduction in this stress.

Indicators for SDG 17 Targets

• Indicator 17.17.1 (Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships): The article provides a precise financial figure for the public partnership. It mentions the “original $450 million the federal government allocated” for the program and that “$125 million” is still available. This serves as a direct quantitative indicator of the financial commitment to the partnership.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: kjzz.org