Superstition Area Water Plant Receives WIFA 2016 Drinking Project of the Year Award

WIFA Awards Water Infrastructure Projects of the Year

PHOENIX (March 6, 2016) – The Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA) announced today that the Apache Junction Water Utilities Community Facilities District and the Town of Springerville were selected to receive WIFA’s Project of the Year awards. WIFA’s Project of the Year awards are presented in recognition of exemplary project management and commitment to public health protection through the improvement of drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.

The 2016 Drinking Water Project of the Year was the Apache Junction Water Utilities Community Facilities District’s Superstition Area Water Plant, a $9 million state-of-the-art water treatment facility. The City of Apache Junction worked with policy makers and stakeholders for over a decade to form the Apache Junction Water Utilities Community Facilities District and begin the planning process that led up to the construction of this plant.

With the completion of this project, the District designed and built a 1.5 million gallons per day (mgd) water treatment facility and is able to more fully utilize their primary source of water, the Central Arizona Project. As a result, they were able to reduce their reliance on groundwater supplies and the cost of water deliveries. When the District started providing water service to its customers, over 90 percent of its supply came from groundwater. Today, over 90 percent of the District’s supply comes from surface water.

The District’s employees and consultants demonstrated exemplary teamwork and organization in the construction of the facility. In recognition of their commitment to protecting public health through the investment in a state-of-the-art water treatment facility, the award was presented at the WIFA Advisory Board meeting on February 15^th and the Apache Junction Water Board meeting on February 21^st.

About WIFA

WIFA is a state agency dedicated to protecting public health and promoting environmental quality through financial assistance for water and wastewater infrastructure. WIFA offers funding for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater projects designed to ensure safe, reliable drinking water and proper wastewater treatment. Over the last 25 years, WIFA has invested over $2 billion in Arizona’s communities.

 For more information, please visit WIFA’s website at azwifa.gov.