U.S. Representative Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego today announced a $179 million investment in the city’s water purification infrastructure. This funding will be allocated to the design and construction of the city’s North Gateway Advanced Water Purification Facility.
The facility will have capacity to treat 8 million gallons of recycled water a day, and combined with the Cave Creek recycled water plant, produce a total of approximately 14,000 acre feet a year of potable water. This will provide a sustainable water resource for Phoenix residents, businesses, and industry.
“This ongoing drought is a major issue in our state, and one of the limiting factors for economic growth. The more we can do on conservation, including and especially advanced water purification, is going to go a long way towards moving our economy forward,” said Stanton.
“Not only does this project relieve pressure on the strained Colorado River, it's also an investment in Phoenix families and the future of our economy. This new advanced water purification facility will help us reduce the cost of getting Phoenix residents water, and it’ll make housing more affordable,” said Gallego. Gallego traveled to Washington, D.C. three times to meet with senior federal government officials to fight hard to secure this funding. She also serves as Chair of Climate Mayors through which she has prioritized regional cooperation on western water security.
Funding for the project comes under the Inflation Reduction Act’s Lower Colorado River Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program. Stanton championed the project in a letter to the Bureau of Reclamation [stanton.house.gov] in September 2024, writing, “Advanced water purification is the single most important technology for reducing the reliance of municipal populations on the Colorado River. The City of Phoenix has embraced this technology as part of its North Phoenix Water Resiliency Strategy to turn recycled water to drinking water.” Stanton toured [x.com] the City’s existing Cave Creek recycled water plant in October 2024.
The city is investing significantly in these projects, committing more than $320 million in local resources.