WIFA Advances Water Importation Projects
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ben Alteneder
Phoenix, AZ November 19, 2025 balteneder@azwifa.gov
Today, the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA) advances four water importation proposals into a study phase to bring new, reliable water into the State. WIFA’s Board of Directors has selected Acciona-Fengate Water Augmentation Alliance and EPCOR Water Innovation Partners to further evaluate four water importation projects through its Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund (LTWAF) program.
As part of WIFA’s ambitious water augmentation program, 17 teams submitted their qualifications for developing new, resilient water supplies for Arizona. Following the qualification process, six water importation proposals were submitted and underwent extensive review by an evaluation team and WIFA’s LTWAF committees. Four of these proposals have been selected by WIFA’s Board of Directors to move forward into a study process for further evaluation.
“Today’s vote is not the end of the road, but a pivotal milestone. Big ideas, engineering and public input now come together to shape real water solutions for generations to come,” shared WIFA’s Chairman of the Board, Jonathan Lines.
Selected water importation projects are listed below.
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Proposed Water Importation Project
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Project Teams
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Gulf of California Desalination and Binational Conveyance
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Acciona-Fengate Water Augmentation Alliance
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Northern Gulf of California Desalination Facility
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EPCOR Water Innovation Partners
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South Bay Potable Water Reuse
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EPCOR Water Innovation Partners
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California Groundwater Storage and Recovery
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EPCOR Water Innovation Partners
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These selections allow WIFA to contract with the project teams to evaluate the viability of all potential projects, including engineering, financial approaches, environmental impacts, permitting requirements, community input, and other critical factors. This process enables WIFA to review multiple potential projects simultaneously and select the most advantageous solution(s) to develop new, reliable water supplies for Arizona.
Moreover, these analyses will require extensive collaboration with other agencies and governments, water providers, potential water purchasers, and other key stakeholders. This also includes public engagement with the communities across the region to inform the studies.
“Arizona has long set the standard for water conservation and management in the West. Today, that record of water stewardship continues through WIFA’s decision to advance bold ideas for bringing new resilient water to our state.” said LTWAF Committee Chairman Ted Cooke.
Ultimately, these studies will support the WIFA Board of Directors as they fulfill their mandate to develop a water importation project(s). Details about the proposed projects and opportunities to engage can be found at https://ltwaf.azwifa.gov/importation
About WIFA
WIFA is a state agency dedicated to ensuring the sustainability of Arizona's present and future water supply through financial investments in effective augmentation, conservation, reuse, and water quality. WIFA is Arizona's administrator of the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF and DWSRF), providing low-interest loans and technical assistance to water and clean water infrastructure projects, as well as three new legislative mandates and associated funds that invest in projects to conserve, develop, and augment water supplies statewide. Over the last 30 years, WIFA has proudly invested almost $3 billion in communities throughout Arizona driving sustainable solutions and helping to secure Arizona’s water future.
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