Scottsdale Water Awarded $1.5M Sustainability Grant

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Scottsdale was awarded a a $1.5 million grant in federal funds for a sustainable project intended to sustain the city's water supply.

Scottsdale Water, the city's water and sewer utility, received the WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to support the city's long-term water supply sustainability program, the city said in a news release.

The grant money will support the construction of Scottsdale's Aquifer Storage and Recovery Well Field Project, which will allow the city to recharge some of the Colorado River water it's allocated into aquifers. Aquifers help to contain and transmit ground water.

“Scottsdale Water has a long history of acting strategically to improve the sustainability of our water resources,” Scottsdale Water Executive Director Brian K. Biesemeyer said in a statement. “This substantial WaterSMART grant is recognition of the importance of groundwater protection and our commitment to renewable water resources as we seek to ensure Scottsdale’s long-term water supply sustainability.”

The well field project includes the construction of four different wells in the next four years. The 2021 federal funds will specifically support the construction of a well near the Scottsdale Sports Complex that will eventually produce 3,200 to 4,000 acre feet of water per year. According to Scottsdale Water, one acre foot can meet the water needs of two families of four for one year.

Scottsdale's groundwater recharge efforts have existed for approximately 25 years and has recharged over 75 billion gallons of water in Arizona aquifers to date, the city said. A lot of the recharge has been conducted outside of the city, so the new well fields will allow Scottsdale to store water within its limits in case of an emergency or drought.

“This grant award is a testament to the hard work put in every day by our Scottsdale Water professionals and to the foresight of our city leadership to invest in infrastructure that puts Scottsdale at the forefront of water utility technology,” Biesemeyer added.