City of Phoenix, Arizona, USA – In construction groundwater augmentation

The City of Phoenix Water Services Department provides water and wastewater services to the United States’ fifth largest city, 540 square miles, with a population of approximately 1,660,000. Our water system has five drinking water treatment plants producing and delivering over 110 billion gallons per year (300 million gallons or 1,138 million litres per day) per day of high-quality water.

Drinking water is provided from three general sources: the Salt and Verde Rivers (58%), the Colorado River (40%), and groundwater wells (2%).

The City of Phoenix is actively pursuing sustainable solutions to ensure safe, secure, reliable, and long-term drinking water supplies for its residents. This project is part of these ongoing efforts to diversify our water portfolio and enhance our ability to meet increasing demands despite climate change.

Phoenix is a leader in the production and use of reclaimed water. Phoenix currently operates two wastewater treatment plants to clean wastewater and produce 70 billion gallons per year (191 million gallons or 724 million litres per day) of recycled water. Phoenix recycles 97% of its wastewater, delivering it for use in agriculture, energy production, urban irrigation, aquifer recharge, and riparian wetland maintenance.

The City of Phoenix is rehabilitating the previously inactive Cave Creek Water Reclamation Plant to produce purified drinking water, marking a major step in the City’s long-term plan to strengthen local water reliability. The project, Pure Water Phoenix at Cave Creek, adds advanced water purification to recycling processes to produce purified water that meets or exceeds state and federal drinking water standards.

Construction at Cave Creek began in 2024 and is scheduled to be completed by 2027. During an initial demonstration period, anticipated to begin in 2027, the facility will serve existing recycled water customers and recharge local groundwater, allowing the City to monitor performance and water quality. By 2029, purified water is expected to be incorporated directly into Phoenix’s drinking water system at a capacity of approximately 6.75 million gallons (25 million litres) per day – roughly enough to serve about 25,000 households.

Nearly all of the Cave Creek Water Reclamation Plant infrastructure is being repurposed, improving efficiency and limiting the need for new construction.

The Cave Creek facility is one of several advanced purification projects planned for the Phoenix region to create a renewable supply that will reduce reliance on imported surface water from the Colorado River and help preserve local aquifers.

Phoenix already recycles about 97% of its 70 billion gallons (265 billion litres) of wastewater each year for beneficial uses including agriculture, energy production, urban irrigation, aquifer recharge, and wetland support.

Learn more about Pure Water Phoenix at Cave Creek

This plant will likely be Phoenix’s first direct potable reuse plant, where the advanced purified water can be sent directly into the drinking water distribution system, upon the project obtaining an Advanced Purified Water Permit (aka DPR) from the state of Arizona’s Department of Environmental Quality.

Learn more about Pure Water Phoenix  

Pure Water Phoenix Cave Creek Fact Sheet 021826

Media Items

Phoenix City Council approves up to $300 million to renovate water treatment plant

Phoenix approves $300M to reopen Cave Creek Water Reclamation Plant

Phoenix takes step toward some day purifying wastewater for household use

Phoenix City Council votes to revitalize, expand water reclamation plant