Drinking water from wastewater? How Phoenix will do it – KTAR News 92.3 FM

Report on Phoenix’s Advanced Water Purification Initiative and Sustainable Water Management

Introduction: Aligning Urban Water Strategy with Global Goals

The city of Phoenix is implementing a strategic initiative, “Pure Water Phoenix,” to develop a sustainable and resilient drinking water supply through advanced water purification. This program directly addresses critical challenges of water scarcity and urban growth, aligning with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). By converting treated wastewater into a safe, potable source, Phoenix is creating a circular water economy essential for long-term environmental and economic viability.

Project Framework and Technological Innovation

The Pure Water Phoenix program is designed to bolster the city’s water portfolio by constructing three advanced water purification (AWP) facilities. This initiative represents a significant investment in resilient infrastructure and clean technology, contributing to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

• Core Technology: The AWP facilities will employ a multi-barrier purification process to ensure water quality exceeds safety standards. Key technologies include reverse osmosis and ultraviolet advanced oxidation, designed to remove pathogens, chemicals, and other contaminants from treated wastewater.
• Program Goal: The primary objective is to create a closed-loop water system, promoting responsible consumption and production patterns as outlined in SDG 12. This ensures the sustainable management and efficient use of natural water resources.
• Economic Foundation: As stated by Assistant Water Services Director Nazario Prieto, “You can’t have economic growth if you don’t have water,” highlighting the project’s role in supporting SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by securing the fundamental resources required for a thriving urban economy.

Phased Implementation and Strategic Objectives

The initiative is structured in three distinct phases, each involving the construction of a new AWP facility. This phased approach allows for progressive implementation, public engagement, and technological refinement.

1. Cave Creek AWP Facility (Phase 1):
   • Status: Construction is underway.
   • Operational Target: 2029.
   • Method: The plant will initially utilize Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR). Purified water will be returned to the ground or stored in reservoirs, acting as an environmental buffer before being retreated and distributed. This pilot phase is crucial for building public trust and operational expertise.
2. North Gateway AWP Facility (Phase 2):
   • Status: Planned.
   • Operational Target: 2030.
   • Method: This facility is slated to use Direct Potable Reuse (DPR), where purified water is introduced directly into the public water distribution system. This marks a significant step towards a fully integrated and efficient water recycling system.
3. 91st Avenue AWP Facility (Phase 3):
   • Status: Planned.
   • Operational Target: 2033.
   • Strategic Impact: As the largest of the three plants, this facility is described as a “game-changer.” Its completion will substantially reduce Phoenix’s dependency on the Colorado River, a critical measure for climate adaptation and strengthening resilience to climate-related hazards, directly supporting SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Conclusion: A Model for Sustainable Urban Water Futures

The Pure Water Phoenix initiative is a forward-thinking strategy that integrates advanced technology with long-term sustainability planning. By transforming wastewater into a valuable resource, the city is not only securing its water supply but also establishing a replicable model for other arid urban centers. The project’s comprehensive alignment with SDGs 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, and 13 demonstrates a profound commitment to creating a resilient, sustainable, and economically stable community for future generations.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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 about ensuring a sustainable supply of clean drinking water for the city of Phoenix through advanced water purification and reuse.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – The article details the construction of new, technologically advanced infrastructure (three AWP facilities) to create a resilient water supply system.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The initiative is a city-level plan to make Phoenix more sustainable and resilient to water scarcity, ensuring the long-term viability of the urban area.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – The project embodies the principles of a circular economy by recycling and reusing wastewater, promoting sustainable management and efficient use of a vital natural resource.

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

• Under SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
  • Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. The project’s primary goal is to “create a sustainable source of drinking water” for the city’s residents.
  • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by… substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally. The entire “Pure Water Phoenix” program is based on taking “treated wastewater” and purifying it for direct and indirect potable reuse.
  • Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency… and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. The article explicitly states the project will make Phoenix “less reliant on the Colorado River,” directly addressing water scarcity by creating a new, sustainable supply.
• Under SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being. The article describes the construction of three AWP plants as critical infrastructure, supported by the quote, “You can’t have economic growth if you don’t have water.”
  • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure… with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and processes. The AWP facilities are an infrastructure upgrade using advanced technologies like “reverse osmosis and ultraviolet advanced oxidation” to achieve water reuse.
• Under SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • Target 11.b: By 2030, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards… resource efficiency… [and] resilience to disasters. The “Pure Water Phoenix” program is a clear example of an integrated city plan to enhance resource efficiency (water) and build resilience against the slow-onset disaster of drought and water scarcity.
• Under SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
  • Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The project directly addresses this target by turning wastewater, a byproduct of consumption, into a reusable resource, thus creating a more efficient and sustainable water management cycle.

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

• For Target 6.3 (Water Recycling and Reuse):
  • An implied indicator is the volume of wastewater that is safely treated and reused. The operational capacity of the three planned AWP facilities will provide a direct measure of the amount of water being recycled into the potable system.
• For Target 6.4 (Water Scarcity):
  • An implied indicator is the level of water stress or dependency on a single water source. Progress can be measured by the reduction in reliance on the Colorado River, as explicitly mentioned in the article.
• For Target 9.1 (Infrastructure Development):
  • A direct indicator is the number and operational status of the new AWP facilities. The article provides a clear timeline for progress: the first plant operational by 2029, the second by 2030, and the third by 2033.
• For Target 11.b (City-level Plans):
  • The existence and implementation of the “Pure Water Phoenix” program itself serves as an indicator of a city adopting an integrated plan for resource efficiency and resilience.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ktar.com