Advancing Arizona’s Water Future with Augmentation

Arizona needs more water. With reductions in Colorado River water after 2026 and stressed aquifers of finite groundwater, Arizona must find new sources of water. That’s why a state agency has been tasked with seeking smart, long-term solutions that will ensure water continues to flow into the future.

The Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA) is the agency responsible for funding major water projects, including managing the Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund , established in 2022. State leaders agreed that there is a critical need to allocate funds specifically for developing new, renewable water sources in Arizona. WIFA has created a multi-phase process for identifying, vetting, and selecting partners and projects. This competitive process follows procurement rules while providing WIFA with the flexibility to fulfill its water augmentation mission.

To initiate the process, WIFA issued a formal solicitation to identify potential project teams that could partner with the state on water augmentation projects. Each interested team had to outline its methods for securing and maintaining long-term water supplies. These proposals were then carefully reviewed and scored based on detailed criteria, including experience, technical expertise, and overall approach. 

The response was strong, with 17 submissions. After a thorough review, three of those teams were approved to proceed with their six detailed proposals . These projects look at a variety of strategies, including:

• Ocean Water Desalination – Turning seawater into drinking water.
• Surface Water Projects – Capturing and moving river or lake water.
• Wastewater Reclamation – Treating and reusing wastewater to create a new supply.
• Other Innovative Sources – Testing new technologies and creative approaches.

These aren’t small undertakings, as they represent big, bold ideas for how Arizona could supplement the water we already have.

Now comes the hard work. The qualified teams will partner with WIFA to dig into the details, including:

• Conducting engineering and financial studies to determine if the projects are feasible.
• Reviewing permits and legal requirements.
• Testing overall feasibility—can it really be done, and at what cost?

WIFA is ensuring these studies are thorough and complete. Once all the information is gathered, WIFA’s Board of Directors will compare the projects side by side and decide which options make the most sense to move forward. This careful process ensures that Arizona is protecting taxpayers and not rushing into expensive or unrealistic projects; instead, it chooses solutions that will work for the long haul. 

This is a critical step forward in securing new supplies, as water is Arizona's lifeline. Large-scale water projects take decades to plan, design, and build. That’s why it’s crucial to start now, even if the solutions are not in place immediately.

Ultimately, this effort is about protecting the quality of life we all value. Reliable water means families can continue to grow, businesses can keep thriving, and Arizona remains a place where people want to live, work, and build their futures.

For more details about WIFA’s process, please visit HERE .

For 56 years, the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association has worked to protect our member cities’ ability to provide their communities with assured, safe, and sustainable water supplies. For more water information, visit www.amwua.org .