Water Infrastructure Finance Authority OKs 2 projects to increase AZ water supply – Arizona Capitol Times

Report on Arizona’s Water Augmentation Strategy and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

In response to escalating water scarcity, exacerbated by climate change impacts on the Colorado River, Arizona’s Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) has approved the initial development of several large-scale water augmentation projects. These initiatives, rooted in public-private partnerships, are critically aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The approved portfolio focuses on desalination, water recycling, and efficiency improvements, representing a long-term strategy to secure a sustainable water future for the state.

Project Portfolio: A Multi-faceted Approach to SDG 6

The WIFA board has sanctioned a diverse set of proposals aimed at increasing Arizona’s water supply by 427,000 to 1.6 million acre-feet annually. These projects are designed to advance several targets under SDG 6.

Desalination Initiatives: Addressing Water Scarcity

At least two desalination plants have been approved for development, directly addressing the need for new freshwater sources. This aligns with efforts to ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater (SDG Target 6.4).

• EPCOR Proposal: A desalination plant in Baja California projected to produce 167,000 to 500,000 acre-feet per year by 2034.
• ACCIONA-Fengate Alliance Proposal 1: A new plant in Baja California to supply 150,000 acre-feet per year by 2034.
• ACCIONA-Fengate Alliance Proposal 2: A project utilizing new or existing plants in California or Mexico to deliver 50,000 to 200,000 acre-feet per year by 2031.

These projects will require careful management to mitigate environmental impacts on marine ecosystems, in line with SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

Water Recycling and Reuse: Promoting a Circular Economy for Water

Several proposals focus on treating wastewater to potable standards, a key strategy for improving water quality and increasing safe reuse (SDG Target 6.3).

1. EPCOR “Toilet to Tap” Project: Advanced treatment of wastewater from a San Diego facility to generate 14,000 to 95,000 acre-feet of new water.
2. ACCIONA-Fengate Group Project: High-quality treatment of wastewater in Mexico and Colorado, freeing up 20,000 to 130,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water.

Efficiency and Conservation: Sustainable Resource Management

Projects aimed at improving water-use efficiency and capturing stormwater contribute to the sustainable management of natural resources (SDG Target 12.2) and building resilient communities (SDG 11).

• EPCOR Stormwater Capture: A plan to capture and store excess runoff in California, creating 10,000 to 100,000 acre-feet of water for exchange.
• ACCIONA-Fengate Irrigation Efficiency: Investment in improving irrigation operations in Mexico, California, and Utah, with a potential yield of 16,000 to 466,000 acre-feet of water between 2028 and 2037. This directly supports increasing water-use efficiency across all sectors (SDG Target 6.4).

Implementation Framework: Partnerships and Transboundary Cooperation

Public-Private Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

The strategy’s foundation is the public-private partnership model, which WIFA has identified as essential for financing, developing, and operating these complex infrastructure projects. This approach embodies SDG 17.17, which encourages effective public-private partnerships to mobilize resources and expertise for sustainable development.

Transboundary Water Management (SDG 6.5)

A core mechanism for all approved projects is the exchange of newly generated water for allocations from the Colorado River. This necessitates complex agreements and cooperation between Arizona, California, Utah, and Mexico, demonstrating a commitment to integrated and transboundary water resources management as called for in SDG Target 6.5.

Project Timeline and Financial Considerations

• Projected Delivery: The majority of new water supplies are not expected to be available until the early to mid-2030s, highlighting this as a long-term climate adaptation strategy (SDG 13).
• Financial Investment: While specific costs are pending, previous estimates for desalination projects range from $5 billion to $10 billion each, underscoring the significant investment required to achieve water security.

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

  This is the most prominent SDG addressed. The entire article focuses on Arizona’s efforts to secure new, long-term water supplies in the face of scarcity, cutbacks from the Colorado River, and stressed groundwater sources. The proposed solutions, such as desalination, wastewater treatment, and stormwater capture, directly relate to ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The article discusses large-scale infrastructure projects, including the construction of new desalination plants, wastewater treatment facilities, and pipelines. These projects, estimated to cost between “$5 billion and $10 billion each,” represent significant investment in resilient and sustainable infrastructure to address a critical resource challenge. The use of advanced technologies like desalination and “toilet to tap” wastewater treatment highlights the innovation aspect of this goal.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The new water supplies are intended to support major urban areas like Phoenix and Tucson. By addressing water scarcity, these projects aim to make these cities more resilient and sustainable, ensuring that communities have the necessary resources to thrive despite environmental pressures like drought.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article explicitly details the collaborative nature of these initiatives. It describes a public-private partnership where a state agency (WIFA) provides taxpayer money to fund projects developed by private companies (EPCOR and the ACCIONA-Fengate alliance). Furthermore, the projects involve transboundary cooperation with California, Utah, Colorado, and the nation of Mexico to manage shared water resources like the Colorado River.

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

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by … substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally. This is directly addressed by the proposals to treat wastewater to drinking water quality. The article mentions two such “toilet to tap” proposals, one from EPCOR to treat sewage near San Diego and another from the Acciona group to treat wastewater in Mexico and Colorado.
   • Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. This is addressed by Acciona’s proposal to “invest in improving the efficiency of irrigation operations in Mexico, California and Utah.” The overarching goal of all projects is to create a new supply of freshwater to address scarcity in Arizona.
   • Target 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate. The projects are a clear example of this, as they involve Arizona working with California, Colorado, Utah, and Mexico to manage the shared Colorado River basin through water swaps and exchanges.

2. 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 construction of at least two large-scale desalination plants and advanced water treatment facilities is a direct effort to build resilient infrastructure to guarantee water security for Arizona’s population and economy.

3. 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… resilience to climate change, disaster risk reduction… The actions taken by WIFA represent a state-level integrated plan to build resilience against the slow-moving disaster of drought and water scarcity, directly benefiting cities like Phoenix and Tucson.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article is centered on this concept. A board member is quoted saying, “finding and developing new water supplies for Arizona required a private public partnership,” and “We need private equity to get this done.” The entire funding mechanism involves the state agency WIFA providing public funds to private entities like EPCOR and Acciona.

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

Yes, the article provides several quantitative metrics that can serve as indicators:

• Volume of new water supply: The total potential increase in Arizona’s water supply, “between 427,000 acre feet and 1.6 million acre feet a year,” is a primary indicator for measuring success in addressing water scarcity (Target 6.4).
• Volume of reused wastewater: The specific amounts of water to be generated from wastewater treatment projects, such as “between 14,000 and 95,000 acre feet” from the EPCOR project and “between 20,000 and 130,000 acre feet” from the Acciona project, are direct indicators for progress on water recycling (Target 6.3).
• Volume of water from improved efficiency: The goal to obtain “between 16,000 and 466,000 acre feet of water” by improving irrigation efficiency is a clear indicator for water-use efficiency (Target 6.4).
• Investment in infrastructure: The estimated cost of desalination plants, “between $5 billion and $10 billion each,” serves as an indicator of the financial investment in developing resilient infrastructure (Target 9.1).
• Number of infrastructure projects: The approval of “at least two and possibly three desalination plants” and “several other projects” is a tangible indicator of progress in building new infrastructure (Target 9.1).
• Number of partnerships: The formation of partnerships between the state agency (WIFA) and at least two private groups (EPCOR and the ACCIONA-Fengate alliance) is an indicator for Target 17.17.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: azcapitoltimes.com