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.
Located in northern Phoenix, the Cave Creek Water Reclamation Plant Rehabilitation Project will bring a new and renewable source of purified drinking water to Phoenix water customers. By the end of 2026, the next generation of this plant will create up to 6.7 million gallons (25 million litres) of advanced purified water each day and flow to basins to recharge groundwater supplies. This new stored water will then be available in the drinking water system and is enough to serve about 25,000 households annually.
Benefits of this project:
- Efficiently repurposes existing water facility.
- Creates new local and renewable drinking water sources.
- Replenishes groundwater.
- Reduces reliance on imported surface water.
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. It is anticipated to happen sometime between 2027 and 2028 upon obtaining an Advanced Purified Water Permit (aka DPR) from the state of Arizona’s Department of Environmental Quality.
Phoenix Cave Creek Fact Sheet 1-25-24 Brent Eidson
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